Thread by @kakape

“While hundreds of millions of people are still waiting for their first dose, some rich countries are moving towards booster doses”, says @DrTedros at @WHO press conference on #covid19.

@DrTedros @WHO "I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people”, says @drtedros. “But we cannot and we should not accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it while the world's most vulnerable people remain unprotected"

@DrTedros @WHO In late May @DrTedros called for vaccinating at least 10% of the population in all countries by the end of September.
"We are now more than halfway to that target date, but we're not on track”, says @drtedros.

@DrTedros @WHO “High-income countries have now received almost 100 doses for every 100 people”, says @drtedros.
"Meanwhile, low-income countries have only been able to administer 1.5 doses for every 100 people due to lack of supply."

@DrTedros @WHO "We need an urgent reversal, from the majority of vaccines going to high-income countries, to the majority going to low income countries”, says @drtedros.
"WHO is calling for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September”, so that the 10% goal can be reached.

@DrTedros @WHO "G20 has a vital leadership role to play as the countries that are the biggest producers, the biggest consumers and the biggest donors of COVID19 vaccines”, says @DrTedros.
"It's not an understatement to say that the course of the pandemic depends on the leadership of the G 20."

@DrTedros @WHO “We must all remember that vaccines are not the only tool”, says @drtedros.
“There is no single tool that will defeat this pandemic. We can only defeat it with a comprehensive approach of vaccines in combination with the proven public health and social measures that we know work"

@DrTedros @WHO Evidence on whether boosters are needed is not clear yet, says @Kate_L_OBrien.
“We need instead to focus on those people who are most vulnerable, most at risk of severe disease and death to get their first and second doses” and then move on with better evidence and supply.

@DrTedros @WHO @Kate_L_OBrien Is moratorium meant to also apply to people like solid organ transplant recipients that have received little protection from two doses, asks @HelenBranswell.
Those exceptional cases should be considered an extra dose in the primary series, says Bruce Aylward.

@DrTedros @WHO @Kate_L_OBrien @HelenBranswell “If we get every remaining country now to at least 10% coverage by the end of September, we will have gone a long way toward protecting health care workers and protecting older populations in most countries”, says Aylward. “But that’s just the beginning.”

@DrTedros @WHO @Kate_L_OBrien @HelenBranswell Q about vaccinating children and teenagers
“They are at risk of COVID, very definitely, but less severe disease and hospitalization”, says Aylward.“In the face of scarce products, really we need to look at this from a global perspective and try and protect those at highest risk."

@DrTedros @WHO @Kate_L_OBrien @HelenBranswell Q about increased price for Pfizer and Moderna shots in Europe
Both companies have increased their manufacturing capacities and the efficiency in the production line, says @mariangelasimao. “This would in a normal market situation lead to a decreased price not increased price"