 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech in New York on February 9, 2022. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
Vaccine inequity is the biggest moral failure of our times – and people are paying the price, said Mr. Guterres, underlining the urgency to act now.
COVAX is currently facing a 16-billion-USD short-fall. The UN recently wrote to 50 rich countries to encourage “fair share” contributions. The UN warned that with every month of delay, the global economy stands to lose almost four times the investment needed for equitable vaccine distribution.
The UN plans to create a vaccine pool of 600 million doses, purchase 700 million test kits, and procure treatments for 120 million patients and 100% of the oxygen needs of low-income countries. Financing will be used to provide lifesaving tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers to low- and middle-income countries.