Thread by @WHO

LIVE with @DrTedros: Media briefing on the mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in #SouthAfrica. #VaccinEquity twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

"Two years ago, as the 🌎 was still coming to grips with the spread of a new coronavirus, WHO did what only WHO can do – we convened hundreds of scientists from around the world to identify the most urgent priorities in R&D. Among them was the development of vaccines."-@DrTedros

"Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of that first meeting.
It’s incredible to think that within a year of that meeting, the first vaccines were approved, and just two years later, more than 10 billion doses have been administered globally."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492145958569881603?s=20&t=IdFueHnH-HZdGggE92ueeQ

"The development and approval of not one, but several [#COVID19] vaccines, in record time is an extraordinary scientific triumph that sets a new standard."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492146189516611585?s=20&t=Olzfo-he7Lgm5tDXdrJQfA

"There can be no doubt that vaccines have saved countless lives, are helping to turn the tide on the [#COVID19] pandemic, and are now giving many countries the confidence to relax restrictions."-@DrTedros

"But as you know, this scientific triumph has been marred by vast inequities in access.
More than half the world’s population is now fully vaccinated [against #COVID19]. And yet 84% of the population of Africa is yet to receive a single dose."-@DrTedros

"Much of this inequity has been driven by the fact that globally, vaccine production is concentrated in a few mostly high-income countries."-@DrTedros

"One of the most obvious lessons of the [#COVID19] pandemic, therefore, is the urgent need to increase local production of vaccines, especially in low- and middle-income countries."-@DrTedros

"That’s why, in April last year, WHO issued a call for expressions of interest for establishing a technology transfer hub for mRNA vaccines."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1383068983595765764?s=20&t=Olzfo-he7Lgm5tDXdrJQfA

"The [global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub] was established here in #SouthAfrica, as a partnership between WHO, Afrigen Biologics, @biovac_inst, @MRCza, @AfricaCDC and @MedsPatentPool."-@DrTedros

"We very much appreciate the strong support for the hub from #Belgium🇧🇪, #Canada🇨🇦, #EuropeanUnion🇪🇺, #France🇫🇷, #Germany🇩🇪 and #Norway🇳🇴"
-@DrTedros

"And it’s already producing results, with Afrigen’s announcement last week that it has produced its own mRNA vaccine, based on publicly available information about the composition of an existing vaccine."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492148566600691713?s=20&t=Olzfo-he7Lgm5tDXdrJQfA

"We expect this vaccine to be more suited to the contexts in which it will be used, with fewer storage constraints and at a lower price.
@MedsPatentPool will manage the intellectual property, and where necessary issue licences to manufacturers."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492149708084719617?s=20&t=YBhXOkOPq1yxFrXeAM1kSA

"Once a vaccine has been successfully developed, other manufacturers from around the world will be able to produce the vaccine for national and regional use."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492149708084719617?s=20&t=YBhXOkOPq1yxFrXeAM1kSA

"We expect clinical trials to start in the fourth quarter of this year, with approval expected in 2024."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492149708084719617?s=20&t=YBhXOkOPq1yxFrXeAM1kSA

"Spokes in other countries receiving the technology should be able to receive approval shortly thereafter."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492150385343189002?s=20&t=8_Za4raGmN9QJ9wOQ4BnhQ

"I congratulate Afrigen on this achievement, and WHO looks forward to supporting you as you take this [#COVID19] vaccine candidate into clinical trials and beyond."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492149708084719617?s=20&t=8_Za4raGmN9QJ9wOQ4BnhQ

"I congratulate #SouthAfrica on its leadership throughout the pandemic – in hosting this mRNA technology transfer hub, in chairing the @ACTAccelerator, and in initiating a resolution at the @wto to temporarily suspend intellectual property rights for #COVID19 products"-@DrTedros

"Indeed, if the owners of mRNA vaccine technologies shared them with the Hub, we could expedite manufacturing, removing the need for large clinical trials, and cutting development and approval time by at least one year."-@DrTedros

"Once again, I congratulate all those involved in bringing the mRNA technology transfer hub to this point, and I look forward to its further development."-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1492148566600691713?s=20&t=8_Za4raGmN9QJ9wOQ4BnhQ

"WHO remains committed to supporting the development of local manufacturing in Africa and around the world, to increase regional health security and as part of our vision for the highest attainable standard of health for all people, in all nations."-@DrTedros