Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Launch of the Access to #COVID19 Tools (ACT) accelerator pscp.tv/w/cXGJZTI2MTAy…

"The #COVID19 pandemic is an unprecedented global crisis that has been met with an unprecedented global response.

Research and development have played a central role"-@DrTedros

"Since January, WHO has been working with thousands of researchers all over the world to accelerate and track vaccine development - from developing animal models to clinical trial designs, and everything in between"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We’ve also developed diagnostics that are being used all over the world;

And we’re coordinating a global trial on the safety and efficacy of four therapeutics against #COVID19.

The world needs these tools, and it needs them fast"-@DrTedros

"Past experience has taught us that even when tools are available, they have been not been equally available to all.

We cannot allow that to happen"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Today, WHO is proud to be uniting with many partners to launch the Access to #COVID19 Tools Accelerator, or the ACT Accelerator"-@DrTedros

"This is a landmark collaboration to accelerate the development, production and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"Our shared commitment is to ensure all people have access to all the tools to defeat #COVID19.

The ACT Accelerator brings together the combined power of several organizations to work with speed and scale"-@DrTedros

"Each of us are doing great work, but we cannot work alone.

We’re coming together to work in new ways to identify challenges and solutions together"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"I am especially grateful to President @EmmanuelMacron, President @vonderleyen and Bill and Melinda Gates for their leadership and partnership in co-hosting the ACT Accelerator.

We’re also grateful for the support of many world leaders, who you will hear from today"-@DrTedros

"And I would especially like to thank Sir Andrew Witty and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for agreeing to act as Special Envoys for the ACT Accelerator.

We are facing a common threat, which we can only defeat with a common approach"-@DrTedros #COVID19

A Global Collaboration to Accelerate the Development, Production and Equitable Access to New #COVID19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines: Access to COVID-19 Tools (act) Accelerator 👉
bit.ly/3ayOP9K

Opening remarks by @DrTedros 👇 bit.ly/2S4iLo1