United States gives 500 million vaccines to poor countries
The 500 million doses of vaccines will be distributed “to 92 disadvantaged countries”, here in India, through the Covax system, set up to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines.
Arun Sankar AFP / Archivos
Text by: RFI Follow
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US President Joe Biden estimated Thursday (June 10) that the US donation of 500 million anti-Covid vaccines to poor countries was a "
historic step
" in the fight against the pandemic, while the WHO called on European countries not to let our guard down, the level of vaccination being still too low to avoid a new wave.
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"
Our humanitarian duty is to save as many lives as possible
", insisted Joe Biden on the eve of the opening of the G7 summit in Cornwall (United Kingdom). "
It is also in the interests of the Americans,
" he added. "
Once again, the United States has answered the call
", welcomed alongside Mr. Biden the CEO of Pzifer, Albert Bourla, explaining that all the inhabitants of the planet had the right to get vaccinated regardless of their financial situation or their origins. “
We are grateful to you
,” he added.
The purchase of 500 million doses of vaccine from Pfizer / BioNTech to donate to other countries in need is "
the largest vaccine order and donation by any one country and a commitment by the American people to help protect populations around the world against Covid-19,
”said the US executive.
► Read also: Covid-19: WHO asks laboratories to share 50% of their vaccines with Covax
These vaccines will be distributed to “
92 countries
” underprivileged through the Covax system, set up to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines.
They will start shipping in August, with 200 million doses delivered by the end of the year.
The other 300 million will be delivered by June 2022.
With nearly 64% of American adults having now received at least one dose, the White House is trying to position itself as a leader in the planetary fight against the pandemic, which has killed more than 3.76 million, including nearly 600,000 in the USA.
However, if part of the population of rich countries returns to a normal life thanks to vaccination, this progress is still fragile and must be extended to less privileged countries.
Covax fails to operate at full capacity
As of June 4, the Covax device had delivered more than 80 million doses to 129 countries and territories, far less than expected.
Nearly 90% of African countries will miss the global target of vaccinating one tenth of their population by September if they do not urgently receive at least 225 million vaccines, the World Health Organization warned on Thursday. (WHO).
The WHO calls on the rich countries, once their population is vaccinated, to share their stocks of vaccines with the less privileged countries, in order to save lives, but also to make it possible to eradicate the epidemic at the global level.
► Read also:
Covid: the Covax mechanism will receive nearly 2.5 billion additional dollars
Donating doses or lifting patents protecting vaccines can make it possible to facilitate vaccination across the planet: the European Parliament, in disagreement with the European Commission, voted on Thursday for a temporary lifting of patents in order to develop production and "
improve global access to affordable medical products
”.
In the 53 territories of the European region according to WHO criteria, 30% of the region's population has received a first dose of vaccine and 17% are fully vaccinated.
Yet as European countries ease their restrictions, the WHO has called on them not to let their guard down. "
Vaccination coverage is far from sufficient to protect the region from a resurgence,
" WHO European director Hans Kluge warned Thursday, calling for maintaining barrier measures and avoiding travel abroad. “
There is still a long way to go to achieve coverage of at least 80% of the adult population
,” he said. "
We are far from being out of danger
."
While minors are still little affected by vaccination, the American biotechnology company Moderna has announced that it has filed an application for authorization of its Covid-19 vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States.
Its main competitor, the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, has already been authorized from the age of 12 in the United States, Canada and the 27 countries of the European Union.
End of mask wear
To the ravages of the disease are added the catastrophic consequences for the economy of the poorest countries.
So, according to a UN report released Thursday, nine million children are at risk of being forced to work because of the pandemic, adding to the 160 million who are already forced to do so.
In rich countries, people are regaining a semblance of normal life thanks to a decline in the epidemic thanks to vaccination.
Almost total stop of the compulsory wearing of the mask from June 14, bars and restaurants open until midnight on June 11, more public for Euro football: Denmark announced on Thursday the final stages of its plan to lift restrictions anti-Covid-19.
But in other parts of the world, the pandemic continues to rage, especially in Iran, which has crossed the threshold of 3 million cases, and is struggling to contain a new wave due to the slowness of its vaccination campaign and to a relaxation of behavior.
(With
AFP
)
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United States
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