COVID-19 vaccine for global public good, says UN chief Antonio Guterres at virtual Global Vaccine Summit in London
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Guterres called for 'global solidarity to ensure that every person, everywhere, has access to the vaccine'
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaking at the virtual Global Vaccine Summit in London said that "COVID-19 vaccine must be seen as a global public good - a people's vaccine."
Guterres called for "global solidarity to ensure that every person, everywhere, has access to the vaccine."
A #COVID19 "vaccine by itself is not enough. We need global solidarity to ensure that every person everywhere has access. A COVID-19 vaccine must be seen as a global public good, a people’s vaccine" - @antonioguterres
— Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (@gavi) June 4, 2020
"Today we celebrate the life-saving miracle of vaccination, the most important public health intervention in history. Saving lives tens of millions of lives every year, eradicating diseases like smallpox, preventing diseases like measles and rubella," Guterres said.
The UN chief's call comes amid the worldwide race to produce a vaccine with some private firms indicating it wouldn't come cheap.
During the conference, WHO chief Tedros said: "The COVID-19 pandemic is unraveling many of the gains we have made through immunization campaigns have been disrupted putting hundreds of millions of people at risk."
"The #COVID19 pandemic is unraveling many of the gains we have made through immunisation campaigns have been disrupted putting hundreds of millions of people at risk.
— Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (@gavi) June 4, 2020
Now is the moment for the world to come together in solidarity, to realise the power of vaccines" - @DrTedros
"The UK will remain the world’s leading donor to Gavi, contributing £1.65 billion over the next five years. I urge you to join us to fortify this life-saving Alliance and inaugurate a new era of global health cooperation" - thank you @BorisJohnson. #GVS2020 #VaccinesWork
— Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (@gavi) June 4, 2020
Norway pledged $1 billion for the vaccination program amid calls for more funding from various countries. British PM Boris Johnson said, "The UK will remain the world’s leading donor to Gavi, contributing £1.65 billion over the next five years."