- In recent days, new variants of the virus responsible for COVID-19 have been reported in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Over time, viruses undergo mutations. It is natural and expected. WHO is working with scientists to understand how these genetic changes affect the behavior of the virus.
- By the start of 2021, it will take an additional US $ 4.6 billion to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for at least 20% of the population in all low- and lower-middle-income countries.
- The WHO, UNICEF and World Bank 100/100 initiative aims to help 100 countries conduct rapid readiness assessments and country-specific plans within a timeframe. 100 days for vaccines and other tools to fight COVID-19. Assessments have already been completed for 89 countries and our teams are working around the clock to ensure that governments and health systems are ready for global vaccine deployment.
- For 30 years, our colleagues at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have published the Human Development Report, an annual snapshot of the state of world development. In its latest edition, released last week, the report takes an in-depth look at the COVID-19 pandemic and what it could mean for the future of development and humanity.
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Hello, good afternoon or good evening.
In recent days, new variants of the virus responsible for COVID-19 have been reported in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Over time, viruses undergo mutations. It is natural and expected.
The UK has reported that this new variant is more easily transmitted, but there is no evidence so far that it is more virulent or more deadly.
WHO is working with scientists to understand how these genetic changes affect the behavior of the virus.
Ultimately, we need to suppress transmission of all strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as quickly as possible.
The more we let it spread, the more likely it is to evolve.
I cannot stress enough – to all governments and to everyone – how important it is to take the necessary precautions to limit transmission.
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This year has been difficult for all of us, but the situation has never been more difficult for the health workers.
At this holiday time of year for so many, the best gift for health workers is for leaders and citizens to take the precautions that release the pressure on health systems.
Safe and effective vaccines give us hope, but they shouldn’t be used as an excuse to lower our guard and put ourselves and those close to them at risk.
Now is the time to double down on the fundamentals of public health by which many countries have been able to effectively suppress the virus.
Some continue to want us to believe that this virus only affects the elderly and that the arrival of vaccines allows us to relax our efforts.
COVID-19 affects children and adults in many ways and can attack any system in the body.
In addition, an increasing number of people are suffering from the long-term consequences of the virus.
This includes neurological complications in children and adults that are still the subject of research.
Vaccines offer hope for some, but I am very concerned that vaccine nationalism could deprive the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people of these essential tools.
Now is the time to turn political commitment into action.
Promises won’t protect anyone if they don’t come true.
Last week, we announced that the COVAX Mechanism – which is supported by 190 countries and economies – has gained access to nearly two billion doses of promising vaccine candidates.
By the start of 2021, it will take an additional US $ 4.6 billion to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for at least 20% of the population in all low- and lower-middle-income countries.
This will immunize health workers and those most at risk of severe disease, which is the fastest way to stabilize health systems and economies and spur a truly global recovery.
The WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank 100/100 initiative aims to help 100 countries conduct rapid readiness assessments and country-specific plans within a timeframe. 100 days for vaccines and other tools to fight COVID-19.
Assessments have already been completed for 89 countries and our teams are working around the clock to ensure that governments and health systems are ready for global vaccine deployment.
WHO has also released new training for health workers on COVID-19 vaccination, available at OpenWHO.org.
Vaccines will help end the pandemic, but the effects of COVID-19 will continue to be felt for many years to come.
The pandemic has taken advantage of the weaknesses and inequalities in our world and made them worse.
However, it has also demonstrated that, faced with an unprecedented crisis, we can find new ways to come together to face it.
Each crisis is an opportunity to question our way of doing things and to find new solutions to do it.
For 30 years, our colleagues at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have published the Human Development Report, an annual snapshot of the state of world development.
UNDP has long been a key partner of WHO. Together, the two organizations work closely together on a range of health and development issues to address issues on the ground so people get the services they need.
In its latest edition, released last week, the report takes an in-depth look at the COVID-19 pandemic and what it could mean for the future of development and humanity.
To tell you more about the report, I am happy to have my friend, Achim Steiner, the Administrator of UNDP, by my side.
Achim, thank you for your cooperation and thank you very much for joining us today. It’s your turn to speak.
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