Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/ck8mQjI2MTAy…

"I’d like to congratulate the @WFP on being awarded the @NobelPrize for Peace today.

Every day, WFP does incredible work in many countries.

We’re delighted for our friends and colleagues at WFP, and for the entire @UN family. Congratulations to WFP and the UN"-@DrTedros

"Vaccines are one of the most powerful inventions in human history.

#Smallpox has been eradicated and #polio is on the brink, thanks to vaccines"-@DrTedros

"Once-feared diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, measles, meningitis and cervical cancer can all be prevented, thanks to vaccines"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

"We now have effective vaccines for #Ebola and the 🌍’s first #malaria vaccine is now being piloted in 3 African countries.

And as you know, the world is eagerly anticipating the results of trials of vaccines against #COVID19, which are needed for WHO authorization"-@DrTedros

"Once we have an effective vaccine, we must also use it effectively, and the best way to do that is by making sure it’s available to all countries equitably through the COVAX Facility"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"COVAX is an unprecedented partnership between WHO, @gavi, manufacturers and the @CEPIvaccines, and has the largest portfolio of potential #COVID19 vaccines, with several in advanced human trials"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"This week, China, the Republic of Korea and Nauru joined the COVAX Facility, bringing the total number of countries and economies that are part of the global initiative for vaccine access to 171"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"Initially, supply of vaccines will be limited. But by sharing supply equitably, countries & economies that are part of COVAX can distribute vaccines simultaneously to priority populations, incl. #healthworkers, older people & those with underlying conditions"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"The aim of COVAX is to ensure that 2 billion doses are manufactured & distributed equitably by the end of 2021.
We also welcome the announcement by one vaccine developer, Moderna, that it will not enforce its patent rights over its #COVID19 vaccine during the pandemic"-@DrTedros

"We look forward to learning more about what this announcement means in terms of technology transfer"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1314589948595630081?s=20

"We appreciate this act of solidarity, which is in line with the principles of the #COVID19 Technology Access Pool, or C-TAP. Sharing the benefits of innovation is the best way to end the pandemic and accelerate the global economic recovery"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"The advice WHO gives to the 🌍 on vaccines is guided by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, or SAGE.
SAGE met earlier this week to review the latest developments for vaccines & vaccination against polio, measles, rotavirus, pneumococcus & #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"SAGE has recommended that any decisions about the allocation and prioritization of #COVID19 vaccines should be grounded in ethical values, incl. equal respect, 🌍 equity, national equity & reciprocity, as outlined in the WHO SAGE Values Framework published last month"-@DrTedros

"And second, SAGE issued a Prioritization Roadmap, which is designed to help countries make decisions about who should be prioritized to receive the initially limited supply of vaccines for #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"SAGE also reviewed evidence from around the world on the impact of the #COVID19 pandemic on immunization activities"-@DrTedros

"All regions have reported disruptions to immunization activities for many reasons, including constraints in supply and demand, re-assignment of #healthworkers, travel restrictions and low availability of personal protective equipment"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1314591768298631169?s=20

"We’re pleased to see that some countries have resumed immunization services, returning to or even exceeding the levels of vaccination prior to the #COVID19 pandemic.

But many other countries are still recovering gradually, and there are still gaps to close"-@DrTedros

"Millions of children globally are missing out on life-saving vaccines. Rapidly restoring immunization clinics, campaigns and outreach activities is the only way to prevent predictable outbreaks and deaths from diseases like #measles and #polio"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"SAGE has issued new recommendations that all countries urgently prioritize implementation of catch-up vaccination campaigns"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Even as we work together to end the pandemic, we must remember that there are many other diseases and conditions that strike people down every day, which have been exacerbated by #COVID19"-@DrTedros

"That includes stillbirth.

Almost 2 million babies are stillborn every year, or 1 every 16 seconds, according to the first estimates of stillbirth published yesterday by @UNICEF, the @WorldBank, WHO and the @UNDESA"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1314095270540595201?s=20

"The report shows that 84% of stillbirths are in lower-income countries, often due to poor quality of care during pregnancy and birth"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1314117671018008577?s=20

"Most stillbirths are preventable, but the #COVID19 pandemic could make this tragic situation even worse. Disruptions to services for maternal care could lead to even more stillbirths and even more heartbreak"-@DrTedros
bit.ly/30GaxGX

"The #COVID19 pandemic has also taken a heavy toll on the #mentalhealth of millions of people, and highlighted the urgency of increasing investment in this neglected area of health"-@DrTedros #MoveForMentalHealth

"Tomorrow is #WorldMentalHealthDay.

Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide.

Yet relatively few people globally have access to quality #mentalhealth services"-@DrTedros

"In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders receive no treatment for their condition at all.

It is time for this to change"-@DrTedros #MoveForMentalHealth

"It is time to increase investment in #mentalhealth services on a massive scale, so that access to quality mental health services becomes a reality for everyone"-@DrTedros #MoveForMentalHealth

"Tomorrow, WHO will host the Big Event for #MentalHealth, an online 🌍 advocacy event that will bring together international & national leaders, advocates, sportspeople & artists, including the K-pop group @superm from 🇰🇷 & @koredebello from 🇳🇬"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1314573489446191110?s=20

"During this unique event, you will see and hear, through stories of people living with mental health conditions, the challenges they face due to the ongoing pandemic, and how they are dealing with them"-@DrTedros #MoveForMentalHealth

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1311963093736587265?s=20

"I hope you will be inspired by the many examples of successful programmes, on adolescent #mentalhealth, suicide prevention, dementia and many more, that are being implemented by WHO, in collaboration with our partners"-@DrTedros #MoveForMentalHealth

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1314548302306848770?s=20

"You can watch the Big Event on WHO’s website, and through our social media channels, including @Twitter, @Facebook, @tiktok_us, @LinkedIn, @YouTube and @Twitch"-@DrTedros #MoveForMentalHealth

bit.ly/WHOBigEventfor…

"The Big Event is part of a larger campaign to focus attention on #mentalhealth with many partners.

I welcome the announcement earlier this week of the Healing Arts Auction hosted by the auction house Christie’s, the @thewhof & #UN75"-@DrTedros

"This is a year-long auction that will raise money for the @thewhof that will be used to support #mentalhealth.

Together, let’s #MoveForMentalHealth"-@DrTedros

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