본문 바로가기
bar_progress

Text Size

Close

WHO Director-General: "Do Not Hoard Vaccines"

During 39 Million Doses Administered in 49 Rich Countries, Guinea Received Only 25 Doses

WHO Director-General: "Do Not Hoard Vaccines" Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO)
[Photo by AP]


[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), strongly criticized wealthy countries for hoarding COVID-19 vaccines on the 18th (local time).


At the WHO board meeting that day, Director-General Ghebreyesus said, "It is not right for young and healthy adults in wealthy countries to be vaccinated before the elderly or healthcare workers in poor countries."


He pointed out that while 49 wealthy countries have administered 39 million vaccine doses so far, Guinea, one of the poor countries, has only received 25 doses. He criticized, "While calling for equitable vaccine access with words, they are raising prices and cutting in line through one-on-one deals with vaccine manufacturers." He added, "The world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure."


According to the Duke University Global Health Innovation Center, Canada has secured five times its population, the UK three times, and the US, European Union (EU), New Zealand, Australia, and Chile more than twice their populations. Among these, the UK, US, and Canada will have more than four times their population in vaccine doses if all pre-purchased vaccines are approved.


Deals between vaccine manufacturers and wealthy countries numbered 44 last year and at least 12 this year. To ensure equitable and smooth global supply of COVID-19 vaccines, WHO, along with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), established the COVAX Facility (an international vaccine-sharing project) in April last year. WHO pointed out that such deals are hindering efforts for fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.


Director-General Ghebreyesus raised his voice, saying, "Manufacturers are prioritizing approvals from wealthy countries to maximize profits rather than submitting their entire supply to WHO," and "The cost of this failure will be the lives and livelihoods of the poorest countries." He urged, "All countries must share detailed information about contracts made one-on-one with manufacturers, including prices, quantities, and delivery schedules, so that WHO can manage the global supply situation."


© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.

Special Coverage


Join us on social!

Top