Thread by @cnnphilippines

HAPPENING NOW: @WHO holds #COVID19 media briefing

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1375482859503321093

.@DrTedros : 177 countries and economies have started vaccination. In just one month, #COVAX has distributed more than 32 million vaccines to 61 countries. COVAX works. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : There are now just 15 days left before the 100th day of the year, and 36 countries that are still waiting for #COVID19 vaccines so they can start vaccinating #healthworkers and older people. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : Of those, 16 are scheduled to receive their 1st doses from #COVAX within the next 15 days. That leaves 20 countries who are ready to go & waiting for vaccines. COVAX is ready to deliver, but we can’t deliver vaccines we don’t have. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : Increased demand for #COVID19 vaccines has led to delays in securing tens of millions of doses that #COVAX was counting on.

#COVAX needs 10M doses immediately as an urgent stop-gap measure so these 20 countries can start vaccinating their👨‍⚕️👩‍⚕️& older people.

.@DrTedros : I’m asking countries with doses of #COVID19 vaccines that have WHO Emergency Use Listing to donate as many doses as they can to help us meet that target.

And I’m asking manufacturers to help ensure these countries can rapidly donate those doses. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : There are plenty of countries who can afford to donate doses with little disruption to their own #COVID19 vaccination plans.

The more countries that donate A.S.A.P., the more doses we will have to share with countries who need them desperately. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : Sharing doses is a tough political choice, and governments need the support of their people. I’m encouraged by surveys in high-income countries showing widespread support for #VaccinEquity.

10 million doses is not much, and it’s not nearly enough, but it’s a start.

.@DrTedros : There're many countries who invested in #COVAX in good faith, but have been left frustrated because of the bilateral deals that have left COVAX short. WHO & partners are continuing to work around the ⏰ to find ways to increase production & secure doses. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : There are four more vaccines at different stages in the process of being assessed for WHO Emergency Use Listing, and we hope to approve at least one of them by the end of April. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros: WHO is concerned about the potential for criminal groups to exploit the huge global unmet demand for #COVID19 vaccines. A number of ministries of health, natl. regulatory authorities & public procurement organizations have received suspicious offers to supply vaccines

.@DrTedros : We are also aware of #COVID19 vaccines being diverted and reintroduced into the supply chain, with no guarantee that cold chain has been maintained. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : Some falsified products are also being sold as #COVID19 vaccines on the internet, especially on the dark web, and we are aware of other reports of corruption and re-use of empty vaccine vials. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : We urge the secure disposal or destruction of used and empty #COVID19 vaccine vials to prevent them from being reused by criminal groups.

And we urge all people not to buy vaccines outside government-run vaccination programs. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : Any vaccine bought outside these programs may be substandard or falsified, with the potential to cause serious harm. It’s important to remember that any harm caused by a falsified product does not reflect a safety failure of the genuine #COVID19 vaccine. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : WHO regularly issues global medical product alerts on substandard and falsified products, and we will do so when and if necessary for #COVID19 vaccines and therapeutics. | via @WHO

.@DrTedros : We urge all countries & individuals to pay careful attention to this issue. Any suspicious sale of vaccines should be reported to national authorities, who will report it to WHO. Information flow is essential to map global threats & protect confidence in vaccines.