China News Service, Geneva, May 24. The 74th World Health Assembly opened by video conference on the 24th. In his speech, WHO Director-General Tedros Advocate for a fair distribution of vaccines, and strive to provide every country in the world by September this year. At least 10% of the population will be vaccinated, and at least 30% of the population will be vaccinated by the end of this year.
As the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization, the World Health Assembly is held in May every year at the WHO headquarters in Geneva. All member states send members to participate in the meeting to review major WHO decisions. Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the conference started last year and changed to video mode. Held.
After the opening of the conference on the morning of the 24th local time, Tedros gave an opening speech.
He said that the new crown pneumonia epidemic has lasted for nearly a year and a half, and the global situation is still very dangerous; since January this year, the number of confirmed cases reported globally has exceeded the total number of cases in 2020; according to current trends, the cumulative number of deaths in the first half of this year is expected to be More than the whole year of last year.
At a time when "the world is still fragile", Tedros urged a fair distribution of the new crown vaccine.
He pointed out that more than 75% of the world’s vaccine doses are currently only used in 10 countries. This “shameful injustice” has caused the epidemic to continue to spread; on the contrary, if the vaccines are distributed fairly, the global available vaccine doses are sufficient to cover all medical workers and the elderly people.
Tan Desai introduced that in January this year, the WHO proposed to start vaccinating all health care workers and the elderly around the world in the first 100 days of 2021. Now this goal is almost achieved; at the opening of the 74th World Health Assembly, The WHO has issued another initiative, calling for at least 10% of the population of every country in the world to be vaccinated by September this year, and at least 30% of the population will be vaccinated by the end of this year.
Tan Desai said that this means that from now to September this year, at least 250 million people in low- and middle-income countries must be vaccinated within 4 months, including priority vaccination of all health care workers and high-risk groups. For this reason, the WHO called for the new crown. Vaccine manufacturers give priority to supplying vaccines to the "New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan" (COVAX) initiated by the WHO, and even pledged to use half of the vaccines produced this year in the plan.
In addition, Tan Desai said that WHO will continue to promote the implementation of temporary exemptions for new crown vaccine patents in an effort to increase vaccine production; Member States are welcome to review the draft resolution on strengthening the localization of drug production at this Health Assembly to avoid low- and middle-income countries Over-reliance on drug imports in emergency situations.
On the 24th, the 74th World Health Assembly also held a general debate.
Ma Xiaowei, director of the National Health Commission of China, made a speech, calling on all parties to adhere to multilateralism, unite in the fight against the epidemic, ensure fair access to public products such as vaccines and diagnostic reagents, ensure the sustainability of pandemic prevention and response mechanisms, and promote the construction of a human health community.
According to the schedule, the current Health Assembly will last until June 1, during which the Assembly will review the prevention and response to public health emergencies, WHO’s planning budget, WHO transformation, WHO health, environment and climate change More than 70 issues including global strategy, global patient safety actions, and antimicrobial resistance.
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