WHO: Rich nations, vaccine makers should stop bilateral deals
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, appealed on Friday to makers of COVID-19 vaccines and the wealthier countries buying them to stop making bilateral deals, saying they are hurting a UN-backed effort to widen access to the jabs. Ghebreyesus said that 42 countries that are rolling out such vaccines are mostly high-income and a few middle-income countries.
Potentially bumps up the price for everyone: WHO chief
Ghebreyesus said, "Now, we are also seeing both high and middle-income countries that are part of COVAX making additional bilateral deals. This potentially bumps up the price for everyone and means high-risk people in the poorest and most marginalized countries don't get the vaccine." "I urge countries and manufacturers to stop making bilateral deals at the expense of COVAX, " he added.
What is the COVAX facility?
The COVAX facility is a UN-backed project to get vaccines deployed widely. Launched in 2020 in a collaborative effort by the WHO, the European Commission, and France in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it aims at providing innovative and equitable access to vaccines for everyone.
Manufacturers should make data about their vaccines available
Ghebreyesus also urged manufacturers to make data about vaccines available, which is needed for the UN health agency to be able to provide emergency use listings that can expedite their deployment. "The lack of such data blocks the whole system of procurement and delivery," he said. However, WHO didn't specify which companies or countries need to do more to help broaden access to vaccines.
50% of high-income countries are deploying vaccines: WHO
Separately, Dr. Bruce Aylward, a special advisor to the WHO chief said, "Fifty percent of high-income countries are deploying vaccines and zero percent of poor countries are. That is not equitable access." Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHO emergencies chief said, "The appeals come as the world has faced high case counts in recent weeks -- roughly four million new confirmed infections per week."
Highest number of deaths due to lack of compliance: Ghebreyesus
Ghebreyesus said, "Some of the highest numbers of deaths recorded at any point in the pandemic have turned up in recent days, and faulted a lack of compliance with recommendations of health authorities."
Team of experts to travel to China next week
Meanwhile, the WHO also said, "Team of experts that was originally expected to arrive in China this week to look into the origins of the pandemic had not yet arrived." "We expect to fix the travel dates next week," it added. On Tuesday, Ghebreyesus had said that he was disappointed that Chinese officials had not finalized the needed permissions for the team's arrival.
