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- The WHO has started an international project known as COVAX.
- China declared to join the COVAX initiative to support the world battle the pandemic.
- President Xi Jinping promised $2 billion for the subsequent two years to undertake the pandemic.
THDNewsDesk: On Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) summoned global solidarity in developing any prospective coronavirus vaccine, as the number of cases surged globally.
In a video sermon, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, stated at the beginning of the three-day World Health Summit in Berlin that the only way to recuperate from the pandemic is collectively and by assuring underdeveloped countries had equal access to a vaccine.
He stated, “It is natural that countries want to protect their citizens first but, if and when we have an effective vaccine, we must also use it effectively. And the best way to do that is to vaccinate some people in all countries rather than all people in some countries.”
“Let me be clear: vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic, not shorten it.” Scientists universally are hustling to develop a vaccine to fight COVID-19, which has killed more than 1.1 million people.
Numerous vaccine candidates are currently under clinical trials, mostly in the most advanced “phase 3” stage with many volunteers.
The European Union, the United States, Britain, Japan, and some other nations have magnanimously pre-ordered with the companies involved in developing the most promising vaccines.
Concerns are for the countries with small revenue that could be outcasted for buying the vaccines. The WHO has started an international project known as COVAX to assure equal access to jabs, but it has strived for the required funds.
‘Greatest Crisis’
On Sunday, the WHO announced a report of new infections globally, requesting several countries to take extra efforts to control the virus’s spread. The records showed that 465,319 cases were declared, on Saturday, mostly in Europe.
Tedros stated, “This is a dangerous moment for many countries in the northern hemisphere as cases spike.”
But he further continued that people weren’t weak against the virus, emphasizing the significance of social distancing, hand washing, and meeting outside rather than inside. “Again and again, we have seen that taking the right actions quickly means the outbreak can be managed.”
Discoursing at the same summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his video conference, described the pandemic as “the greatest crisis of our times.”
He stated, “We need global solidarity every step of the way,” reverberating the appeal for developed countries to assist those with fewer resources. Guterres said, “A vaccine must be a global public good.”
China’s vaccine obligation
On October 9, In the latest progress, China declared to join the COVAX initiative to support the world battle the pandemic. The discussion with the WHO to have its domestically produced vaccines evaluated for global utilization.
Hua Chunying, from Foreign Ministry, stated, “We are taking this concrete step to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines, especially to developing countries, and hope more capable countries will also join and support COVAX.”
Hua stated that it is a significant step China took to support the notion of a shared community of health for all and to acknowledge its dedication to turn COVID-19 vaccines into a universal good.
Presently, the COVID-19 pandemic professes a relentless peril to the health of masses worldwide. China proceeds to assure that developing countries have fair access to proper, reliable, and efficient vaccines.
Hua stated, “To that end, we have solemnly pledged to make vaccines developed and deployed by China a global public good, which will be provided to developing countries as a priority.”
China has secured close contact with COVAX with a positive outlook towards joining it. Hua reported, despite China leading the world with various vaccines in advanced stages of R&D and with adequate production potential, it chose to join COVAX.
In May, President Xi Jinping promised $2 billion for the subsequent two years to undertake the pandemic that has killed over 1 million people.
WHO chief says ‘vaccine nationalism’ will not combat COVID-19
"Let me be clear: vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic, not shorten it."- WHO Director-General
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a daily press briefing on COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, at the WHO heardquaters in Geneva on March 11, 2020. - WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on March 11, 2020, that the new coronavirus outbreak can now be characterised as a pandemic. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)