The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday, 4 August, called for a moratorium on additional doses of Covid-19 vaccines until at least the end of September, in order to ensure a more equitable distribution of vaccines between rich and poor countries.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gebreiesus called on countries and companies that control the supply of vaccine doses to ensure that more vaccines are delivered to poor countries.
Tedros said he understood the government’s desire to protect its citizens from the coronavirus delta.
“However, we cannot accept that countries that have already used most of the world’s vaccine stock are using even more, but the world’s most vulnerable people remain vulnerable,” said the WHO Director-General.
He stressed the urgent need to change the situation and ensure that most doses of vaccines are supplied to low-income countries.
The AFP news agency estimates that 4.25 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been used worldwide.
In high-income countries, 101 doses per 100 people were used, while in 29 low-income countries, only 1.7 doses per 100 people were used.
“Accordingly, the WHO is calling for a moratorium on additional doses until at least the end of September, so that at least 10% of the population in all countries can be vaccinated,” Tedros said.
He noted that the G20 countries have a key role to play in this effort, as they are the largest producers, consumers and donors of Covid-19 vaccines.-
“It is no exaggeration to say that the course of the Covid-19 pandemic depends on G20 leadership,” he added.
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