(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) UN Secretary-General once again calls for vaccine fair
China News Agency, United Nations, March 11. The World Health Organization has identified the new crown pneumonia epidemic as a pandemic for one year. UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement on the 11th, again calling for the new crown vaccine to become a global public product and to achieve vaccine fairness.
The WHO declared the new crown pneumonia epidemic as a "pandemic" on March 11, 2020.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there are currently more than 118 million confirmed infections worldwide and more than 2.6 million deaths.
Guterres said that our world has experienced "tsunami-like" pain and torture in the past year. Office buildings in most places are empty, streets are quiet and silent, and school gates are closed.
Many lives have passed away, the economy and society are in trouble, the most vulnerable groups suffer the most, and the disadvantaged groups are "abandoned farther."
Guterres said that with the promotion of the new crown vaccine, people have seen "some light at the end of the tunnel."
The New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan (COVAX) has begun to provide vaccines to some of the poorest countries.
But while some rich countries are working hard to vaccinate all their citizens, many low-income countries still have not received a single dose of the vaccine, which worries him deeply.
"We have seen many examples of'vaccine nationalism'." He pointed out that some rich countries not only hoard vaccines, but also sign unilateral agreements with vaccine producers, which further undermines vaccine fairness.
The WHO previously announced that COVAX has started the first round of vaccine distribution. Between February and May this year, it will provide a total of 237 million doses of vaccine to more than 140 countries around the world.
Guterres said that the global vaccination work reflects the biggest "ethical test" at present; only through vaccination can the virus be truly controlled, the blockade of society can be ended, and the economy can be restarted.
In view of this, the new crown vaccine must become a global public product.
He called on the whole world to unite and cooperate to jointly produce and distribute vaccines.
Guterres said that in order for everyone to get enough vaccines, at least to double the current production capacity, mankind must start working hard from now on.
Guterres stated that the United Nations will continue to mobilize the international community and strive to make vaccines equitable and affordable for all, especially supporting women, ethnic minorities, the elderly, the disabled, refugees, immigrants and indigenous peoples. And other vulnerable groups.
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