Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cz7sszI2MTAy…

"As you know, at the beginning of the year I issued a call for #COVID19 vaccination to begin in all countries within the first 100 days of the year.

Tomorrow is day 100"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1348934025629589510?s=20

"Out of 220 countries and economies, 194 have now started #COVID19 vaccination, and 26 have not. Of those, 7 have received vaccines and could start, and a further 5 countries should receive their vaccines in the coming days"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"That leaves 14 countries who have not yet begun #COVID19 vaccination, for a range of reasons. Some have not requested vaccines through #COVAX, some are not yet ready, and some plan to start in the coming weeks and months"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"#COVAX has now delivered more than 38 million doses of #COVID19 vaccine to more than 100 countries and economies in the past six weeks.

We’re encouraged that almost all countries who want to start have now started"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1380437362900140033?s=20

"However, I emphasize the word 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡.
Most countries don't have anywhere near enough #COVID19 vaccines to cover all 👩‍⚕️🧑‍⚕️👨‍⚕️, or all at-risk groups, never mind the rest of their populations. There remains a shocking imbalance in the 🌍 distribution of vaccines"-@DrTedros

"More than 700 million #COVID19 vaccine doses have been administered globally, but over 87% have gone to high income or upper middle-income countries, while low income countries have received just 0.2%"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"On average in high-income countries, almost 1 in 4 people has received a #COVID19 vaccine.

In low-income countries, it’s 1 in more than 500.

𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁: 𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝟰 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝟭 𝗶𝗻 𝟱𝟬𝟬"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"#COVAX had been expecting to distribute almost 100 million doses by the end of March, but due to a marked reduction in supply, we have only been able to distribute 38 million doses.

We hope to be able to catch up during April and May"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"#COVAX works. It’s a strong mechanism that can distribute #COVID19 vaccines faster and more efficiently than any other mechanism. The problem is not getting vaccines out of COVAX; the problem is getting them in"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"We understand that some countries & companies plan to do their own bilateral #COVID19 vaccine donations, bypassing #COVAX for their own political or commercial reasons. These bilateral arrangements run the risk of fanning the flames of 𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘺"-@DrTedros

"This is a time for partnership, not patronage.

Scarcity of supply is driving vaccine nationalism and vaccine diplomacy"-@DrTedros

#ACTogether #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1380498968627585029?s=20

"So WHO, @gavi, @CEPIvaccines & our other #COVAX partners are working on several options for accelerating production & supply. We’re:
-in ongoing discussions with the Government of
🇮🇳 about the supply of #COVID19 vaccines from the Serum Institute
..."-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"...
-working to accelerate the release and rollout of #COVID19 vaccines from SK Bio in 🇰🇷
-trying to expedite the delivery of the J&J vaccine
-expediting the review of more vaccines including from Sinopharm, Sinovac & Gamaleya
..."-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"...
-continuing to seek donations of doses from countries who have enough to cover their entire populations several times over – not in several months’ time, but now
-in discussions with several countries as we seek to expand 🌍 manufacturing capacity"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"It’s stunning to think that less than a year after the @ACTAccelerator was launched, #COVID19 vaccines have been approved and vaccination has started in almost all countries.
None of this would have been possible without our partners in #COVAX, including @gavi"-@DrTedros

"Thank you so much, @GaviSeth, for your leadership and partnership. I look forward to continuing to work with you to achieve our vision of vaccines for all"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

"And even as we work to expand access to #COVID19 vaccines, we’re continuing to keep a close eye on vaccine safety"-@DrTedros

"Earlier this week, the @EMA_News and the Medicines and other Health Products Agency from the 🇬🇧 said that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects of the AstraZeneca #COVID19 vaccine"-@DrTedros

"#COVID19 subcommittee of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety has reviewed available information & has said that a causal relationship between the vaccine & the occurrence of 🩸 clots with low platelets is plausible, but more investigation is required"-@DrTedros

"WHO, @EMA_News and @MHRAgovuk continue to recommend that the benefits of the #COVID19 AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risk of these very rare side effects"-@DrTedros

"All vaccines and medicines carry a risk of side effects. In this case, the risks of severe disease and death from #COVID19 are many times higher than the very small risks related to the vaccine"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1380502212145782784?s=20

"We continue to appeal to all people to please, be careful. Vaccines are giving us light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re not there yet.
Vaccines are one of the many tools we have to prevent infections & save lives. The right approach is a comprehensive approach"-@DrTedros

"We must all continue to protect ourselves and those around us by making the right choices.

We all have responsibilities, as individuals and leaders, in ending the #COVID19 pandemic"-@DrTedros #ACTogether

The full remarks by @DrTedros at the #COVID19 media briefing - 9 April 2021 👇
bit.ly/3s8gxTA