“The WHO is calling for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September so that at least 10% of the population in each country can be vaccinated. To do this, we need everyone working together, especially the handful of countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines, “he said.
“While hundreds of millions of people are still waiting for their first dose, some rich countries are moving towards a booster dose,” added Tedros. “To date, more than 4 billion doses of vaccine have been given around the world. More than 80% went to high- and middle-income countries, even though they make up less than half the world’s population.”
While Tedros said he understands the concern of all governments to protect their populations from the Delta variant, “we cannot and should not accept that countries that have already consumed most of the world’s vaccine supply use more of it while the Most vulnerable people in the world are left unprotected. ”
In May, Tedros called for global support so that countries can vaccinate at least 10% of their populations by September. He said that even though it is more than half the target date, the world is not on the right track.
When his challenge was issued, high-income countries had given around 50 doses per 100 people, Tedros said.
Since then, the number has doubled, with high-income countries now giving almost 100 doses per 100 people, while low-income countries were able to give 1.5 doses per 100 people due to a lack of care.
“We need an urgent turnaround from the majority of vaccines going to high-income countries and the majority going to low-income countries,” Tedros said.
Tedros called on the G20 heads of state and government to make concrete commitments in support of the WHO’s global vaccination goals, that vaccine manufacturers give COVAX priority and that everyone with influence supports the call for a moratorium on boosters.
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