Covid-19: for the WHO, the vaccine race is not a solution to end the pandemic
In India, the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 began on Saturday, January 16 (illustrative image).
REUTERS - AMIT DAVE
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Is the vaccine race a solution to get out of the pandemic?
Or the best way to prolong the recession?
For months, the WHO has been warning the few countries competing for additional orders from manufacturers.
According to a study by the International Chamber of Commerce, if rich countries continue to monopolize vaccine stocks, they will still have to pay more than half of the bill for the global economy.
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If the rich countries are the only ones to protect themselves against the Covid-19, the losses for the world economy could reach more than 9 trillion dollars, relates
our correspondent in Geneva
,
Jérémie Lanche
.
It is about half of the GDP of the European Union.
Of which more than 50% is the responsibility of the rich countries.
John Denton is the secretary of the International Chamber of Commerce: “A
lot of jobs, for example in the United States, result directly from trade with less developed countries.
Take the tires that are made in Thailand.
If Thailand cannot deliver to the US market, it is a loss for the United States.
And why can't Thailand deliver?
Well, precisely because Thailand is affected by Covid-19
”.
The inconsistency of vaccine nationalism
This is not the first time that a report has pointed to the inconsistencies of what the WHO calls vaccine nationalism.
But this time, the economic consequences are far greater than expected.
In the background, we can read a criticism of the stimulus packages announced by the big economies: “
If you really want to repair your economy, you will also have to repair the world economy
,” continues John Denton.
And that means making sure vaccines are available in all countries and equitably.
It has nothing to do with charity.
It just makes good economic sense.
"
More than 40 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have already been administered worldwide.
Most of them in rich countries.
The WHO asks that its members focus instead on its Covax system, which should allow equitable access to immunization in all countries.
Don't forget the poorest
A speech also held in Davos, where has been held (virtually) - since January 25 - a Forum that reflects on ways to rebuild more inclusive and sustainable global growth.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged developed countries not to forget the poorest in their vaccination strategy: “
Our challenge today is to undertake the largest and fastest vaccination campaign than the world has never seen to reach everyone and everywhere on the planet.
It is in the interest of all countries.
It is the fastest way to reopen the global economy.
"
"
The vaccine supply is still scarce and so is distribution
," continues Mr. Guterres.
Vaccines are reaching high income countries while poor countries have not received a single one.
If developed countries think they will be safe because they are going to vaccinate their people and neglect others, they are wrong.
There is now a clear risk of mutating the virus which makes it more transmissible, smaller and more resistant to existing vaccines.
We must therefore act quickly !!
vaccine production capacities must be massively improved.
Licenses must be available and accessibility assured.
Vaccines must be considered as a global common good, vaccines for the people
”, concludes the Secretary General of the United Nations.
►
See also: Davos Forum: Oxfam denounces “the inequality virus” in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic
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