Thread by @WHO

Media briefing on #VaccinEquity with @DrTedros, Strive Masiyiwa, @SongweVera, @JNkengasong, @afreximbank's Benedict Oramah, @MoetiTshidi, @GaviSeth pscp.tv/w/dA9SSXR3LTE0…

"As you know, WHO’s global targets are to support every country to vaccinate at least 40% of its population by the end of this year, and 70% of the world’s population by the middle of next year"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros "So far just 2 countries in Africa have reached the 40% target, the lowest of any region. That’s not because African countries don’t have the capacity or experience to roll out #COVID19 vaccines. It’s because they've been left behind by the rest of the 🌍"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros "More than 5.7B [#COVID19 vaccine] doses have been administered globally, but only 2% of those have been administered in Africa. This leaves people at high risk of disease & death exposed to a deadly virus against which many other people around the 🌍 enjoy protection"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "The longer vaccine inequity persists, the more:
-the virus will keep circulating & changing
-the longer the social & economic disruption will continue
-the higher the chances that more variants will emerge that render vaccines less effective"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros "It was to avoid this situation that WHO, @gavi, @CEPIvaccines and @UNICEF established #COVAX last year, to accelerate the development and equitable distribution of vaccines"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

who.int/initiatives/ac…

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF "So far, #COVAX has shipped more than 260 million [#COVID19 vaccine] doses to 141 countries.
But as you know, COVAX has also faced several challenges, with manufacturers prioritizing bilateral deals and many high-income countries tying up the global supply of vaccines"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF "Last year, the @_AfricanUnion (AU) established the African #COVID19 Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, or AVAT, as a compliment to #COVAX to purchase vaccines for AU Member States"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion "I would like to thank my friends and colleagues here today – Strive, @JNkengasong , @SongweVera and Benedict – for their leadership of AVAT, and acknowledge the role of President @CyrilRamaphosa in initiating AVAT as Chair of the @_AfricanUnion"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1437781977713848322?s=20

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "Yesterday and today, we had a very constructive meeting between partners from #COVAX and AVAT to agree on a way forward.

Vaccine inequity is a solvable problem"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "We call on manufacturers to prioritize #COVAX and AVAT"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1437782319218282499?s=20

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "We call on countries that have already achieved high coverage levels to:
-swap their near-term 💉 deliveries with #COVAX & AVAT
-fulfil their dose-sharing pledges immediately
-facilitate the sharing of technology, know-how & IP to support regional 💉 manufacturing"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "We call on all countries and manufacturers to share information on:
-bilateral deals with #COVAX & AVAT so we understand where 💉 are needed most
-supply & delivery projections so countries can be ready to immediately roll out vaccines when they land"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "We call on all countries to recognize all #COVID19 vaccines with WHO Emergency Use Listing"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "I will continue to call for vaccine equity until we get it. Today I’m honoured to be joined by several leading voices to talk about how #COVAX and AVAT are working together to achieve our shared vaccination targets in Africa"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "I’m very pleased to welcome Mr Strive Masiyiwa, the @_AfricanUnion’s Special Envoy for #COVID19. Mr Masiyiwa, thank you for everything you’re doing with AVAT to deliver vaccines to Africa’s people as soon as possible"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "@JNkengasong, thank you for your leadership in fighting the #COVID19 pandemic in Africa, and for your continued partnership, including through the mRNA technology transfer hub that we have established together in 🇿🇦"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa "It’s my pleasure to welcome Dr @SongweVera, the @UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa. Dr Songwe, thank you for joining us today"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa @UN "Professor Benedict Oramah, the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of @afreximbank, thank you for your support for expanding access to #COVID19 vaccines in Africa"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa @UN @afreximbank "@GaviSeth, thank you for your leadership and partnership, and for everything you and your colleagues have done and continue to do to make sure everyone benefits from the power of vaccines"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa @UN @afreximbank @GaviSeth "Last but by no means least, I’m delighted to welcome Dr @MoetiTshidi, @WHOAFRO Regional Director"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa @UN @afreximbank @GaviSeth @MoetiTshidi @WHOAFRO "This Friday is #WorldPatientSafetyDay.

Our theme this year is safe maternal and newborn care. Childbirth should be a time of celebration for families and communities. But for too many, it’s a time of sorrow and grief"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa @UN @afreximbank @GaviSeth @MoetiTshidi @WHOAFRO "Every day, nearly 5,400 babies are stillborn, & more than 800 women & 6,700 newborns die mainly around the time of childbirth. These deaths are mostly avoidable with safe & quality care, delivered by skilled health professionals, supported by a strong health system"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa @UN @afreximbank @GaviSeth @MoetiTshidi @WHOAFRO "We call on all countries, health workers, communities and partners to act now for safe and respectful childbirth"-@DrTedros #patientsafety

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1437788443384369162?s=20

@DrTedros @gavi @CEPIvaccines @UNICEF @_AfricanUnion @JNkengasong @SongweVera @CyrilRamaphosa @UN @afreximbank @GaviSeth @MoetiTshidi @WHOAFRO The full remarks by @DrTedros at the media briefing on #VaccinEquity - 14 September 2021 ⬇️ bit.ly/394XthZ