Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros & @DrKeithRowley, Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister. #VaccinEquity pscp.tv/w/cv0ToTI2MTAy…

"Just over a year ago, WHO launched its 1st Strategic Preparedness & Response Plan (SPRP) for #COVID19. The SPRP outlined the comprehensive response needed & which many countries have followed successfully to suppress transmission, protect the vulnerable & save lives"-@DrTedros

"With an ask of $1.7B, the 1st SPRP saw an unprecedented response. With the support of Member States & donors, we raised $1.58B, over 90% of which was allocated to countries & regions, getting vital funding to those at the frontline of the #COVID19 pandemic ..."-@DrTedros

"...and supporting WHO’s core scientific and technical work.
It also enabled WHO and our partners to ship millions of tests and items of personal protective equipment, and to support thousands of ICU beds around the world"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1362398453838528512?s=20

"We deployed 191 Emergency Medical Teams, supported sero-epidemiological studies in 58 countries, offered 150 online training events, reaching 4.7 million participants – and much more"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Today we are proud to launch the #COVID19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for 2021"-@DrTedros

"The new plan builds on last year’s SPRP, with 6 objectives:
Suppress transmission
Reduce exposure
Counter misinformation & disinformation
Protect the vulnerable
Reduce death & illness
Accelerate equitable access to new tools, incl. vaccines, diagnostics & therapeutics"-@DrTedros

"The financial need to meet these objectives is $1.96B, including $1.2B for the WHO component of the @ACTAccelerator.

And $643 million will go towards supporting people in need of humanitarian assistance in fragile, conflict and vulnerable settings"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"The SPRP also recognizes the need to fully integrate the #COVID19 response into planning for health and development programmes"-@DrTedros

"Fully funding the SPRP is not just an investment in responding to #COVID19, it’s an investment in the global recovery and in building the architecture to prepare for, prevent and mitigate future health emergencies"-@DrTedros

"At the beginning of the year I issued a call to action to ensure that vaccination of #healthworkers was underway in all countries within the first 100 days of the year"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1362370619329904640?s=20

"Tomorrow marks the halfway point & we have made progress, but we are not there yet. With the emergency use listing of 2 versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine, COVAX is ready to roll out vaccines & is waiting for several manufacturers to make good on their commitments"-@DrTedros

"The world is moving closer to delivering the promise of #VaccinEquity.

Vaccine equity will be on the agenda at both the @G7 leaders meeting and the @MunSecConf tomorrow"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Tomorrow, WHO will also launch a new declaration focused on #VaccinEquity and I have been encouraged by the support we have received from hundreds of organizations and thousands of people"-@DrTedros #COVID19

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1362140531791458305?s=20

"Health worker groups, international agencies, religious groups, youth movements, sporting bodies and athletes have all signed the #VaccinEquity declaration"-@DrTedros #COVID19

who.int/vaccinequity

"The #VaccinEquity declaration calls for action from several groups:

It calls for political leaders to increase contributions to the #COVAX facility and to share doses with COVAX, in parallel with their own national vaccine rollout"-@DrTedros #COVID19

who.int/vaccinequity

"It calls for vaccine manufacturers to share know-how with the #COVID19 Technology Access Pool, to scale up vaccine manufacturing and dramatically increase the global supply of vaccines"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

who.int/vaccinequity

"It calls for regulatory bodies to accelerate #COVID19 vaccine approval processes in a safe and effective way"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

who.int/vaccinequity

"It calls for ministries of health to work with WHO & others to invest in & prepare their primary health care systems for distribution of #COVID19 vaccines to 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ & to develop data systems on vaccine supply, distribution & uptake"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity who.int/vaccinequity

"It calls for all governments to ensure that #COVID19 vaccines are distributed free at the point of care, without risk of financial hardship, starting with #healthworkers"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

who.int/vaccinequity

"#VaccinEquity is especially important for fragile & vulnerable groups, and for small island states like those in the Pacific & Caribbean with small populations who can miss out on vaccines because they have less bargaining power than big countries"-@DrTedros #COVID19

"Today we’re privileged to be joined by the Honourable @DrKeithRowley, 🇹🇹 Prime Minister. It's an honour to have you share the experience of Trinidad & Tobago, I welcome your solidarity & I am pleased that your 1st health worker was vaccinated yesterday!"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"The record-breaking pace of #COVID19 vaccine development shows that where there is a will, there is a way. If people everywhere demand #VaccinEquity, it can be done"-@DrTedros who.int/vaccinequity

The full remarks by @DrTedros at the #COVID19 media briefing - 18 February 2021 👇
bit.ly/2OQwz6I