WHO DG: Promise of equitable COVID-19 vaccines access at serious risk

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General (DG) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that even though the world has overcome scientific, legal, logistical and regulatory barriers; the promise of equitable COVID-19 vaccines access is at serious risk as the first batches begin to be deployed.

Dr. Tedros was addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at the debate on the report “COVID-19 vaccines: ethical, legal and practical considerations.”

“Together, we have overcome scientific barriers, legal barriers, logistical barriers and regulatory barriers,” said the WHO DG. “But even as the first vaccines begin to be deployed, the promise of equitable access is at serious risk.”

The WHO chief went on to say that there is a real danger much of the world could be left behind.

“We now face the real danger that even as vaccines bring hope to those in wealthy countries, much of the world could be left behind,” said Dr. Tedros.

He added, “Some countries and companies are making bilateral deals, going around COVAX, driving up prices and attempting to jump to the front of the queue.”

Convened by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and WHO, COVAX aims to speed up the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, and to make sure that they reach the world’s poorest countries. It is the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a global partnership to accelerate the development, production and equal access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines.

The director-general said that about 50% of the countries that are now administering the vaccines are developed.

“COVID-19 vaccines are now being administered in 50 countries around the world, nearly all of which are wealthy nations,” said the WHO head. “Seventy-five percent of doses have been deployed in only ten countries.”

He then reiterated he understood the governments wanted to give priority to their own elderly and health care workers, but added that vaccinating healthy and young adults in rich countries before the old individuals and health care workers in poor nations was not right.

Talking about manufacturers prioritizing approvals in developed nations, Dr. Tedros said, “The situation is compounded by the fact that most manufacturers have prioritized regulatory approval in rich countries, rather than submitting full dossiers to WHO for Emergency Use Listing.”

The WHO boss stressed that those most at risk of severe disease and death must be prioritized in all countries.

“A me-first approach leaves the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people at risk,” the WHO head said.

Suggesting that the so many countries that have bought additional vaccines should donate the extra ones to COVAX, the WHO director-general stated: “While many European countries have made generous financial contributions to COVAX, funds to complete the purchase of the two billion dose target are still needed. It is just as important that COVAX receives timely donations of extra doses of vaccine that so many countries have secured.”

“To put it bluntly: many countries have bought more vaccine than they need. It is critical that COVAX receives those extra doses soon, not the leftovers many months from now.”

Read the full address of the WHO chief, here.