Thread by @WHO

LIVE with @DrTedros at the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing - From Aspiration To Action event ⬇️

#VaccinEquity

@DrTedros "When we last spoke in April, #COVID19 vaccines had already been rolling out around the world for 4 months. Since then, some countries have managed to vaccinate the majority of their populations, and are well on their way to widespread coverage with boosters"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "But back in April, most of the 🌍’s countries, including most African countries, did not have anywhere near enough vaccines to cover all #healthworkers, or all at-risk groups, never mind the rest of their populations. That remains the case"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1467778486031032325?s=20

@DrTedros "More than 80% of the world’s #COVID19 vaccines have gone to @g20org countries; low-income countries, most of them in Africa, have received just 0.6% of all vaccines"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @g20org "We’re pleased that #COVAX and AVAT are now picking up speed as supply increases, but we are still a long way from reaching our targets to vaccinate 40% of the population of all countries by the end of this year, and 70% by the middle of next year"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @g20org "More than 100 countries still have not reached the 40% target, and more than half of those, mostly in Africa, are at risk of missing it by the end of the year, mainly because they cannot access the vaccines they need"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @g20org "We have often said as long as vaccine inequity persists, the more opportunity the virus has to spread and mutate in ways no one can prevent or predict. And so, we have Omicron"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @g20org "I thank #SouthAfrica and #Botswana for rapidly detecting, sequencing and reporting this new #COVID19 variant. It is deeply disappointing to me that some countries continue to block direct flights from southern Africa due to the Omicron variant"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1467543045801484294?s=20

@DrTedros @g20org "The persistent inequity in access to vaccines & the emergence of the Omicron variant show why the 🌍 needs more widespread, regionally based 💉 production, as well as IP reform to share the vital health public goods, technology transfer, sharing of knowhow & training"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @g20org "A month ago the Africa Medicines Agency treaty entered into force, paving the way to improve the quality, safety, efficacy, availability and affordability of medicines and vaccines across the continent"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1457067536554602496?s=20

@DrTedros @g20org "Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda and Senegal have all signed agreements or Memorandums of Understanding for #COVID19 vaccine manufacturing in their countries, and Algeria has begun production"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @g20org "WHO & partners have established an mRNA technology transfer hub in #SouthAfrica 🇿🇦 to boost 💉 production on the continent"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @g20org "WHO has established a vaccine industry talent development program, in partnership with MasterCard Foundation, with focus on Africa"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @g20org "The coordinated development of local manufacturing capacity on the continent in partnership with the #TeamEurope Initiative on manufacturing and access to medicines, vaccines and health technologies"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @g20org "At its summit in October, the @g20org issued a declaration saying it would support increasing vaccine distribution, administration and local manufacturing capacity in low and lower-middle income countries"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

@DrTedros @g20org "This includes support of technology transfer hubs, such as the newly established mRNA Hubs in South Africa, Brazil and Argentina, and through joint production and processing arrangements"-@DrTedros #VaccinEquity

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1467782244202909699?s=20

@DrTedros @g20org "Even before the #COVID19 pandemic, we knew that strengthening local production in Africa would be an essential part of our continent’s journey towards universal health coverage"-@DrTedros #HealthForAll

@DrTedros @g20org "So, this is not just about #COVID19. There will always be more disease outbreaks and epidemics. That’s why local production of vaccines is so critical"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1467782874317619201?s=20