This archive report was first published on 15 June 2021.
WHO Warns Virus Outpacing Vaccines Amid G7 Doses Pledge ¶
Geneva, June 14, 2021 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the COVID-19 virus is moving faster than the global distribution of vaccines, despite a pledge by the G7 to share a billion doses with poorer nations.
According to the WHO, more than 11 billion shots are needed to vaccinate at least 70% of the world's population, a target set by the organization. However, the G7's pledge of 1 billion doses, primarily through the Covax facility, is seen as insufficient.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the G7's announcement but emphasized that the virus is moving faster than the global distribution of vaccines. 'This is a big help, but we need more, and we need them faster,' he said.
Tedros also highlighted the dire situation in low-income countries, where the imbalance between the G7 and low-income countries in terms of doses administered is 73 to 1.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders questioned the sincerity of the G7's commitment to vaccine equity, calling for more clarity on the actual number of doses donated and the timeline for translating pledges into real impact.
Others have stressed the need to quickly resolve the issue of COVID-19 vaccine patent protections to boost production. Full-fledged negotiations towards a possible suspension of intellectual property protections have just begun at the World Trade Organization.
WHO and partners have also highlighted the desperate need for funds to overcome the pandemic, with over $16 billion still needed this year to fully fund efforts to speed up production and access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines.
