Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: The World Health Organization holds a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: With over 3.5 million recorded deaths from #COVID19, an estimated loss to the global economy of $22 trillion and new variants compounding explosive outbreaks, this pandemic is far from over.

@DrTedros: In my opening remarks on Monday, I called on 🌍 leaders to support a massive push to vaccinate at least 10% of the population of every country by September, and 30% by the end of the year.

@DrTedros @DrTedros: Our “sprint to September” goal means we must vaccinate at least 250 million more people in low- and middle-income countries, including all #healthworkers and the most at-risk groups as the first priority.

@DrTedros @DrTedros: Ultimately, the fastest way to bring this pandemic to an end is to dramatically increase global manufacturing of vaccines, tests, treatments and other medical supplies, and ensure equitable access.

@DrTedros @DrTedros: A year ago, the President of #CostaRica, His Excellency @CarlosAlvQ, and more than 40 Heads of State joined WHO to form C-TAP, the #COVID19 Technology Access Pool.

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ @DrTedros: C-TAP draws on the experience of the Medicines Patent Pool, and provides a single platform where innovators of #COVID19 health products can voluntarily share knowledge and technologies with quality-assured manufacturers. C-TAP is based on a proven method.

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ @DrTedros: Voluntary, non-exclusive licenses issued through the Medicines Patent Pool, have saved lives by scaling up manufacturing for treatments against HIV, TB and other diseases.

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ @DrTedros: We welcome the interest expressed by several diagnostic manufacturers who are already in advanced discussions with C-TAP to share their technology. And also from research institutions who are willing to share their knowledge through C-TAP.

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ .@DrTedros: But we need more developers to come forward and share life-saving tools so that we can ramp up production and expand access.

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ .@DrTedros: Once fully functional, C-TAP assisting in the expansion of manufacturing could provide increased supply for countries and #COVAX

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ .@DrTedros: We’re holding the door open for pharmaceutical companies that have become household names, although too few households have benefited from the life-saving tools they have developed.

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ .@DrTedros: They control the IP that can save lives today, end this pandemic soon and prevent future epidemics from spiralling out of control and undermining health, economies and national security.

@DrTedros @CarlosAlvQ .@DrTedros: The major gap is originator companies, but I believe that with the right political will and the right incentives, we can see an increase in collaboration and pooling that would help to end this pandemic.