WHO sets new targets for Vaccinating Poorest Nations

According to director of World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, covid-19 pandemic is being sustained by a “scandalous inequity” in vaccine distribution. Thus, he has set new targets to protect people in poorest nations.

Vaccine Inequality

Many countries are burdened with second wave of covid-19. More cases have been reported in 2021 so far, than they were reported in whole 2020. Number of deaths is soon going to overtake last year’s total. In the midst, vaccine is not being distributed equally. According to WHO chief, 75% of all vaccines has been administered in just 10 countries.

How WHO is distributing vaccines?

WHO and GAVI Vaccine alliance are running COVAX facility. Under this initiative, 72 million vaccine doses have been delivered to 125 countries and economies since February 2021. It just covered 1% of their population.

What are new targets?

WHO has asked the developed countries to donate vaccine doses to COVAX so that, it can cover vaccination for 10% of populations by September 2021 and 30% by December 2021. Thus, it has set a target of vaccinating 250 million more people in four months. He also asked vaccine manufacturers to provide COVAX the first right of refusal on new stock of vaccines, or to provide 50% of their volumes to COVAX in 2021.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021