Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cpkI9TI2MTAy…

"This week, I was pleased to see that the @MHRAgovuk gave an emergency authorization for the Pfizer/BioNTech #COVID19 vaccine for rollout"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1334045625281863681?s=20

"Just like with the 🇬🇧’s findings on #dexamethasone in the summer, this is an important scientific step for the world as vaccines will be critical in the battle against #COVID19"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"Progress on vaccines gives us all a lift and we can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

However, WHO is concerned that there is a growing perception that the #COVID19 pandemic is over"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"The truth is that at present, many places are witnessing very high transmission of the #COVID19 virus, which is putting enormous pressure on hospitals, intensive care units and #healthworkers"-@DrTedros

"Some countries in Europe have managed to reduce transmission of the #COVID19 virus by putting stringent measures in place that limit people from mingling"-@DrTedros

"As previously seen, as these measures are lifted, it’s important that people should continue to follow national and local measures to ensure that cases do not rebound"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"Even as #COVID19 vaccines are rolled out, people will need to keep adhering to public health measures so that everyone is protected"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1334148628160638976?s=20

"We know it’s been a hard year and people are tired, but in hospitals that are running at, or over, capacity; it’s the hardest it can possibly be"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"My personal ask to people is simple, please be careful, think of #healthworkers and act for the greater good, because it will save lives and livelihoods"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"The #COVID19 pandemic still has a long a way to run and decisions made by leaders and citizens in the coming days will determine both the course of the virus in the short term and when this pandemic will ultimately end"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"With vaccines now being introduced, it’s really important that they are distributed equitably around the world.

Since @gavi, @CEPIvaccines & WHO set up the COVAX Facility in April of this year, 189 countries and economies have backed it"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"WHO is engaged with our partners at all levels, working to boost manufacturing and ensure rollout of #COVID19 vaccines"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"A new hundred-hundred initiative - a major sprint by WHO, @UNICEF, @WorldBank, @GlobalFund and @gavi – aims to help 100 countries conduct rapid readiness assessments and country-specific plans within 100 days for vaccines and other #COVID19 tools"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"1⃣ we’re asking all countries to do a country readiness assessment that takes into account cold chain, health worker capacity, micro-planning, initial target populations and training"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"This will form the basis of national deployment and vaccination plans, which will outline how to rollout the #COVID19 vaccines and identify any potential bottlenecks that will need to be planned for"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"For decision makers, this means passing any legislation and policies needed to expedite the process, ensuring the regulatory process is fit for purpose and confirming that the financing is in place"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"The COVAX Facility, which is the vaccine arm of the @ACTAccelerator, intends to provide doses to enable the 189 countries and economies to vaccinate those at highest risk of the virus"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"In the first phase of the rollout, sufficient doses will be provided to cover health and social care workers"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #ACTogether

"As supply increases, #COVID19 vaccines will be rolled out to cover 20% of the population of participating countries and economies, which will ensure further high-risk groups are covered"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"The payoff from this will be huge. New research by the @EurasiaGroup found that the economic benefits of a global equitable #COVID19 vaccine solution alone for just 10 high-income countries would be at least $153B in 2020-21, rising to $466B by 2025"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"COVAX, has already secured 700 million doses of three #COVID19 vaccines and next year we aim to use additional funds to ensure that at least two billion doses of safe and effective vaccines are available around the world"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"To ensure that this effort becomes a reality, the @ACTAccelerator, urgently requires a cash injection of $4.3 B to fast-track critical areas of work & ensure that rapid tests, treatments & new #COVID19 vaccines are distributed equitably"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"As well as ensuring supply, manufacturing, logistics and funds are all in place, it’s important to ensure that leaders communicate with their populations about the importance of #COVID19 vaccination and how and where to get it"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

"The WHO Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health, which is chaired by Professor @CassSunstein, released a report this week focused on how best to ensure high coverage of new #COVID19 vaccines"-@DrTedros bit.ly/39JWSns

"The report provides initial lessons and recommendations.

However, like with everything in this pandemic, we need to learn fast and be ready to quickly adapt our strategies"-@DrTedros #COVID19 bit.ly/39JWSns

"It’s important that all groups have a voice in the future of health and the planet.

In this regard, today I am announcing the launch of a WHO Youth Council, which will provide advice on key health and development issues affecting young people"-@DrTedros

"#COVID19 has affected young people a great deal, including mental health.

The Youth Council will serve as a platform for designing and incubating new initiatives and for maintaining and expanding existing meaningful youth engagement initiatives of WHO"-@DrTedros

"It will work with organizations dealing with the broad spectrum of health issues affecting youth today.

Young people aren’t just the future, they’re the present and we must hear their voice and experience to build the post pandemic world together"-@DrTedros