Daily US Times: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said the world faces a “catastrophic moral failure” because of unequal Covid vaccine policies.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was not fair for healthy and younger people in richer nations to get injections before vulnerable people in poorer states.
He said over 39 million coronavirus vaccine doses had been given in 49 wealthier states – but one poor nation had only 25 doses.
Meanwhile, both China and WHO were criticised for their Covid response.
An independent panel commissioned by the World Health Organization said the UN public health body should have declared an international emergency earlier, and also rapped the Chinese authority for not taking public health measures sooner.
So far, the US, UK, China, India, Russia have all developed Covid-19 vaccines, with others being made by multinational teams – like the American-German Pfizer vaccine.
Almost all of these countries have prioritised distribution to their own populations.
On Monday, while speaking at a WHO executive board session, Dr Tedros said, “I need to be blunt: the world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure – and the price of this failure will be paid with lives and livelihoods in the world’s poorest countries.”
‘A ”me-first” approach would be self-defeating because it would push up prices and encourage hoarding, Dr Tedros said.
Ultimately, these actions will only prolong the pandemic, the WHO chief warned, adding that the restrictions needed to contain it, and human and economic suffering.
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