(Berlin) COVID-19 pandemic will end “when the world chooses to end it” because “all the tools” are now available to fight the virus, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Sunday , renewing its calls for a more equitable distribution of vaccines.
“The pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it, it is in our hands, we have all the tools we need”, launched the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) during of a conference in Berlin.
He lamented that so far “the world has not used these tools wisely”, stressing that with “nearly 50,000 deaths per week” in the world, “the pandemic is far from over”.
The WHO chief was speaking at the opening ceremony of the “World Health Summit”, an annual event bringing together professionals and politicians in Berlin.
WHO has set a target that 40% of the population of each country will be vaccinated by the end of the year and 70% by the middle of 2022. Dr.r Tedros regularly deplores the monopolization of anti-COVID-19 vaccines by rich countries.
“The goal is achievable, but only if the countries and companies that control the supply translate their declarations into actions,” he said in Berlin.
“Countries that have already reached the 40% target, including all G20 countries must give way in vaccine deliveries” to the international Covax system and the African Fund for the Acquisition of Vaccines (Avat) set up. place by the African Union, pleaded the Dr Tedros.
As for vaccine manufacturers, they “must share know-how, technology and licenses, as well as waive intellectual property rights.”
In a recorded video message, UN chief Antonio Guterres said “the triumph of vaccines – developed and brought to market in record time – is being wiped out by the tragedy of uneven distribution.
“Nationalism and the hoarding of vaccines put us all at risk,” he lamented.