While it is not possible to vaccinate the world from hunger and suffering, the representative of the United States said, it is indeed possible to vaccinate people against COVID-19. Advocating for a move from discretionary bilateral aid to strategic investment in local vaccine production, he said Kenya recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the pharmaceutical company Moderna to establish a $500 million mRNA vaccine and related drug manufacturing facility in the country. It also allowed the virus to mutate again and again, he added, noting that if the multilateral machinery had been activated swiftly, the colossal impact of the pandemic would have been avoided. The yawning vaccination gap between the global North and South, Kenya’s delegate said, has revealed the failure of multilateralism. In the ensuing discussion, several delegates lamented the stark gaps in vaccination rates across the globe and stressed the importance of addressing the ways in which unilateralism, conflict, misinformation and lack of capacity have impacted vaccine equity and global public health goals. Underscoring the fragility of South Sudan’s health system, he portrayed the challenge of rolling out COVID‑19 vaccines to a population of 12 million people, many of whom live in regions that are cut off by seasonal flooding. In response, the Ministry of Health and its partners invested in community education, mobilizing religious leaders and radio stations to provide accurate information. Also stressing that vaccines have expired on airport tarmacs in Afghanistan, Nigeria and South Sudan, she underscored the importance of enhancing delivery capabilities and building public trust.Īlong similar lines, Emmanuel Ojwang of CARE International, which provides humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, noted that misinformation, including a persistent myth connecting vaccines with infertility, has contributed to vaccine hesitancy in that country. Respect for international humanitarian law is essential for the protection of hospitals and medical personnel, she said, highlighting the pandemic as an opportune moment to strengthen health systems in conflict-affected countries. Those who are displaced or living in areas controlled by non-State armed groups are overlooked in public health responses, Esperanza Martinez, Senior Adviser to the Office of the Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), pointed out. However, “the window of opportunity is gradually closing”, he cautioned. ![]() Bundling COVID‑19 vaccination with other health and humanitarian interventions, and implementing the “humanitarian buffer” - which acts as a measure of last resort to ensure access to COVID‑19 vaccines - has enabled COVAX to reach vulnerable populations, he reported. In the 34 countries that the COVID‑19 vaccine delivery partnership is focused on, there are many competing health, humanitarian and economic priorities, he noted. ![]() Ted Chaiban, Global Lead Coordinator for COVID‑19 Vaccine Country Readiness and Delivery - part of the COVAX facility - stressed the importance of strong political leadership and planning in implementing mass vaccination campaigns that can help achieve vaccine equity. ![]() Rapid action in the next six months, especially in conflict zones, is essential for addressing vaccine equity gaps, the senior United Nations official in charge of global vaccination delivery efforts told the Security Council today. ![]() Representatives of Kenya, Ghana Outline Plans to Build Production Facilities, as Others Reiterate Appeal for Intellectual Property Right Waivers
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