Joining the "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan" China demonstrates its responsibility and responsibility as a major country
At present, the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still raging around the world and continues to threaten the safety and health of human life. People in all countries have more urgent expectations for equitable access to safe and effective vaccines. The international community pays more attention to the issue of equitable vaccine distribution.
The "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan" (COVAX), which aims to solve this problem, has also attracted much attention.
According to the latest data from the WHO website, as of October 19, 184 countries and regions have joined the plan.
A total of 198 candidate vaccines are being developed and registered in various countries, of which 44 have entered the clinical trial stage.
At present, the "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan" has included 9 candidate vaccines, of which 2 are from China.
Strive to ensure equitable access to vaccines
The “New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan” was jointly initiated and led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Epidemic Prevention Innovation Alliance (CEPI). It aims to accelerate the development and production of new coronary pneumonia vaccines and ensure that countries Fair access to vaccines includes providing access to safe and effective vaccines to countries without vaccine research and development capabilities or low-income countries.
The initial goal of this plan is to complete the production of 2 billion doses of vaccine by the end of 2021, and half of it will be used in low-income countries.
This plan can share the risk of vaccine development, effectively reduce the cost of vaccine procurement, and ensure the fair distribution of vaccines.
Countries and regions participating in this plan can obtain the vaccines needed by at least 20% of the population in that country or region in an instant and orderly, and can ensure the diversification and active management of vaccine product portfolios.
WHO Director-General Tan Desai said earlier that this is currently the most effective mechanism for equitable sharing of safe and effective vaccines in the world. It allows participating countries and economies to enjoy the world’s broadest and most diverse portfolio of vaccine candidates, ensuring that all countries can Get vaccines at the same time, and give priority to high-risk groups such as health workers, the elderly, and people with underlying diseases.
Through this plan, global coordinated deployment can be realized, and the best interests of all countries can be guaranteed. It will be the fastest way to control and end the epidemic, save lives, and accelerate the process of global economic recovery.
Tan Desai emphasized: "It should be ensured that at least some people in all countries and not everyone in some countries are vaccinated."
It is understood that the economies participating in the "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan" are divided into "self-financed economies" and "funded economies."
In some cases, the "self-paying economy" can choose a specific vaccine in the vaccine portfolio instead of other vaccines.
Vaccine supply is limited, not all countries can get their first choice immediately, but they will try their best to meet their preferences.
The "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan" requires a total of US$7 billion in donations by the end of 2021 to purchase the first batch of new coronary pneumonia vaccines for 92 low- and middle-income countries.
Currently, the first round of fundraising target is 2 billion US dollars, which is expected to be reached before the end of this year.
In addition, delivery of vaccines to low- and middle-income countries requires an additional $1.6 billion to cover transportation and storage costs.
Solemn promise to show great power
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China has always maintained a positive attitude towards global cooperation in vaccine research and development.
On May 18 this year, President Xi Jinping made a speech at the opening ceremony of the 73rd World Health Assembly video conference and pointed out that after China’s new crown pneumonia vaccine is developed and put into use, it will be used as a global public product to achieve vaccine availability in developing countries. Accessibility and affordability make China's contribution.
This is a solemn commitment made by Chinese leaders to the world to fight the epidemic.
Today, China has faith in its words and is fulfilling its promises in a serious, responsible, active and effective manner.
At present, China's new crown pneumonia vaccine research and development is at the international leading level.
On October 8, China and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization signed an agreement to join the "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan."
China's participation has increased global strength and coverage, and is a strong support for global efforts to fight the epidemic.
As the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, China maintains communication and cooperation with initiators such as the World Health Organization and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, and has always maintained a positive attitude towards joining this program.
China's entry is an important measure for China to uphold the concept of a community of human health and fulfill its commitment to promote vaccines as a global public product.
China has taken concrete actions to promote the fair distribution of vaccines, ensure that vaccines are provided to developing countries, and encourage more capable countries to support and join this plan.
In addition, the Chinese government supports Chinese vaccine research and development companies to participate in the "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan."
According to reports, some Chinese vaccine research and development companies have expressed their positive willingness to join the plan, and technical experts from both sides are maintaining close communication on technical standards for vaccine research and development, certification, and supervision.
China will also give priority to vaccines to developing countries in various forms, including donations and unpaid assistance.
Highly praised by the international community
China's actual actions have won praise from the international community.
European Commission President Von der Lein said on social media on October 11 that China is welcome to join the "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan."
Von der Lein said that the EU and China have the same goal, that multilateralism is the key to making vaccines benefit all places and everyone in the world, and he looks forward to working with China and other partners on this.
Seth Berkeley, CEO of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, said that ensuring that countries, rich or poor, can obtain the new crown pneumonia vaccine fairly and quickly was a huge challenge a few months ago, and it is now becoming a reality.
With China's entry, we are rapidly approaching our initial goal, which is to initiate support for low-income countries.
Alleria Nguyen, executive director of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, said in an interview with the media that China’s participation is very important, which provides motivation to ensure fair access to vaccines.
In responding to the new crown pneumonia pandemic, China has shown very active leadership and has carried out a lot of vaccine research and development.
The plan will provide a lot of room for participation by vaccine developers in China's public and private sectors.
Jerome King, director of the International Institute of Vaccines, told the media that China has already entered the final testing stage for many vaccines. China's participation in the program at this time highlights China's determination to participate in the global fight against the epidemic.
Foreign media reports praised China as the largest economy that has so far supported the "new crown pneumonia vaccine implementation plan."
British Reuters reported that China's entry has greatly promoted this plan and made China the largest economy that has so far pledged to support the fair purchase and distribution of vaccines.
The British "Guardian" reported that China's participation in the plan has added more confidence to the international community in uniting against the epidemic, and it has also improved China's image. China has become the largest economy against "vaccine nationalism."
Bloomberg's website reported that China's participation in this program filled the gap in global health leadership left by the US government.
Al Jazeera’s website reported that China is the largest economy that has supported this plan so far. China’s participation will help ensure that poor countries can obtain the new crown pneumonia vaccine. This is also an important step in China’s commitment to make the new crown pneumonia vaccine a global public product.
An analyst from Geneva, where the WHO headquarters is located, pointed out that past disasters in human history have proved many times that only countries, regions and stakeholders in the spirit of common breathing, common destiny, unity and cooperation, and abandoning selfish interests can finally overcome disasters. .
From this perspective, the core purpose of the fight against the epidemic is to promote equitable global availability of vaccines through strengthening global cooperation, with the focus on providing necessary assistance to developing countries with fragile health systems.
It can be said that fair access to vaccines in developing countries is a crucial factor in the world's ultimate ability to overcome the epidemic.
China's participation in this plan is of great significance to achieving the above goals.
Despite the huge losses and pressure brought by its own fight against the epidemic, China still does not forget to lend a hand to developing countries. Faced with global issues such as the response to the epidemic, China once again demonstrates its responsibility and responsibility as a major country, which will greatly contribute to the global fight against the epidemic. The driving effect of
(Economic Daily reporter Yang Haiquan)