Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cgpRyTI2MTAy…

"I want to start by paying tribute to Professor @PeterByass who passed away suddenly on Sunday.
Peter was the former Director of the Centre for Global Health Research at Umea University in #Sweden and the Chief Editor of Global Health Action"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1295327362452725766?s=20

"He [@PeterByass] was a committed and talented servant of global health who helped many people shine around the world.
He was also my dear friend & mentor. I’ve worked with him, learned from him & laughed with him. He’ll be much missed"-@DrTedros

"Our last media briefing focused on the world’s progress in developing new diagnostic tests, therapeutics & vaccines.
Today, I’m going to outline some of the key logistical hurdles we’ve faced in the last 8 months, shipping lifesaving medical equipment around the 🌍"-@DrTedros

"The lessons learned from the distribution of these supplies will be important as we look to ensure that our supply chains and systems are honed for future breakthroughs from the ACT-Accelerator"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Learning from past experience and challenges is key to improving the current #COVID19 pandemic response to this and future outbreaks"-@DrTedros

"Every new disease outbreak presents new challenges but from a logistics perspective, #COVID19 has been one of the toughest challenges we’ve ever faced"-@DrTedros

"Because this respiratory disease passes relatively easily between people, when this #COVID19 outbreak started there was an urgent need to get advice, information, training and equipment to frontline workers"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1295668674351824898?s=20

"On the 5th Jan, days after a cluster of unknown pneumonia was identified in Wuhan, 🇨🇳; WHO shared detailed info on the cases with the 🌍 & advised all countries & emergency contact points to take precautions to reduce the risk of severe acute respiratory infections"-@DrTedros

"Between 10-12 Jan, WHO published a package of guidance documents for countries, covering topics related to the management of a new disease outbreak:
finding & testing for the disease
caring for patients
infection prevention & control measures to protect #healthworkers"-@DrTedros

"2nd week of Jan, 🇨🇳 had mapped the genome & shared it with WHO & with wider 🌍.
We rapidly published a “how to” on building a PCR test for #COVID19 from our partner lab in 🇩🇪.
In the 3rd week, WHO identified & began contracting for validated production of these tests"-@DrTedros

"By the 1st week of Feb, we began shipping tests to over 150 labs around the 🌍, which enabled the countries to quickly identify, track & trace #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"As this was happening, and #COVID19 outbreaks started to spread in other countries, there was a huge surge in demand for personal protective equipment, such as medical masks, gowns, gloves and face protection"-@DrTedros

"Manufacturers in several key countries were under so-called lockdown & there was a collapse in air transport, which is imperative for sending supplies around the 🌍"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Some countries put in place export restrictions & there were several instances of requisitioning key medical supplies for national use"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1295670665710841857?s=20

"Supply nationalism exacerbated the pandemic & contributed to the total failure of the global supply chain.

For a period of time, some countries were without key supplies, such as key items for #healthworkers who were dealing with surging cases of #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"And many countries still do not have enough.

To boost manufacturing and ensure that supply chains began to function, early on in the #COVID19 outbreak WHO convened regular meetings with key companies and industry groups"-@DrTedros

"WHO worked closely with the @WFP and quickly utilised nine new and existing logistics hubs to establish a solid supply chain to deliver lifesaving personal protective equipment and medical supplies around the world"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"WHO worked with partners like @UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda @gatesfoundation, @foundation_ma and Alibaba Foundation to purchase and deliver hundreds of millions of pieces of protective equipment for #healthworkers"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"The Partners Platform, created at the end of January, has become a critical tool to help countries highlight financial, supply and personnel needs & deliver the necessary public health response"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"WHO worked to unblock bottlenecks by working with public & private partners to increase supplies within the market.

So, what are the lessons?

While there is a wish amongst leaders to protect their own people first, the response to this pandemic has to be collective"-@DrTedros

"This is not charity, we’ve learned the hard way that the fastest way to end the #COVID19 pandemic and to reopen economies is to start by protecting the highest risk populations everywhere, rather than the entire populations of just some countries"-@DrTedros

"Sharing finite supplies strategically and globally is actually in each countries national interest.

No one is safe until everyone is safe.

No one country has access to R&D, manufacturing and all the supply chain for all essential medicines and materials"-@DrTedros

"And if we can work together, we can ensure that all essential workers are protected and proven treatments like dexamethasone are available to those who need them"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1295672621934284800?s=20

"With personal protective equipment and tests, a collaboration between the public and private sectors meant supply was increased in order to support fair and equitable use of scarce products"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"As new diagnostics, medicines and vaccines come through the pipeline, it’s critical that countries don't repeat the same mistakes.

We need to prevent #COVID19 vaccine nationalism"-@DrTedros

"And for this reason, WHO is working with governments and the private sector to both accelerate the science, through the ACT-Accelerator, and ensure that new innovations are available to everyone, everywhere starting with those at highest risk"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Since May, WHO has been in extensive consultations to develop a new framework to guide fair and equitable access to diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, for #COVID19 across all countries"-@DrTedros

"These cross-cutting principles are key to the promotion of equitable access and fair allocation of these essential health products for the greatest impact globally"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1295673539866091521?s=20

"For example, once a successful vaccine has been identified WHO’s strategic advisory group will provide recommendations for their appropriate and fair use.

The allocation of vaccines is proposed to be rolled out in two phases"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"In phase 1, doses will be allocated proportionally to all participating countries simultaneously to reduce overall risk.

In phase 2, consideration will be given to countries’ in relation to threat and vulnerability"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1295673836977954817?s=20

"Front line workers in health and social care settings are prioritised as they are essential to treat and protect the population and come in close contact with high-mortality risk groups"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Initial data has shown that adults over 65 years old and those with certain comorbidities are at the highest risk of dying from #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"For most countries, a phase 1 allocation that builds up to 20% of the population would cover most of the at-risk groups.
If we don't protect these highest risk people from everywhere & at the same time, we can't stabilise health systems & rebuild the 🌍 economy"-@DrTedros

"We’re all so interconnected.

As a small example, vaccine developed in one country, may need to be filled in vials with stoppers that are produced in another, using materials for the high-grade glass that is only available from yet another country"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We will need to quickly manufacture billions of doses to reach all those who need the vaccine, which means hundreds of millions of glass vials & ways to transport them effectively"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"All this means, elite planning at the highest levels is needed right now to prepare to vaccinate and treat the world as new technologies come down the pipeline"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1295674995327336449?s=20

"Solidarity is needed to provide a joint solution to the #COVID19 pandemic.
The COVAX 🌍 Vaccines Facility is the critical mechanism for joint procurement & pooling risk across multiple vaccines, which is why I sent a 📩 to every Member State encouraging them to join"-@DrTedros

"Like an orchestra, we need all instruments to be played in harmony to create music that everyone enjoys.

One or two instruments playing by themselves just won’t suffice when the world is waiting and listening intently"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"We will work to bring the band together, to promote science, solutions and solidarity because we believe to our core that we do it best, when we do it together"-@DrTedros #COVID19

The full remarks by @DrTedros 👇 bit.ly/3ax6pwA