New York, NY, May 12, 2021 鈥  COVID-19 vaccine distribution has been largely concentrated in higher income countries, despite dire need in conflict-affected areas as more transmissible COVID-19 variants drive up cases and intensify pressure on already strained health systems.Inequitable vaccine access has seen the US, UK and the EU each pre-purchase enough approved COVID-19 doses to vaccinate their populations more than twice over; excess doses could vaccinate people aged 16 and over of all 20 of the 探花精选鈥檚 2021 Emergency Watchlist countries. 

With the release of the of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, the 探花精选 is calling for G7 and G20 countries to commit excess vaccine doses and funding to crisis-affected countries.

While will further support efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries, more needs to be done. Many countries lacking sufficient access to COVID-19 vaccines are seeing major surges in cases, which continues to threaten global health security. This comes at a time when global supply chains are continuing to face disruptions that are further slowing vaccine production and distribution. The 探花精选 calls on governments in high-income countries to take the critical steps needed to drive more equitable access, including redoubling support to COVAX, funding distribution, and supporting efforts to increase manufacturing.

Mesfin Teklu Tessema, Senior Director of Health at the 探花精选, says,

鈥淎s deadlier variants spread across crisis-affected countries, almost 90% of all vaccine doses have been administered in high-income countries. High-income countries must do more. This not only means urgently sharing excess COVID-19 vaccine doses with the COVAX Facility, but supporting vaccine distribution and manufacturing efforts in lower-income countries. This includes sharing COVID-19 related technology and know-how, waiving intellectual property rights to the vaccines, and funding distribution efforts. Ending restrictions on the export of COVID-19 vaccines and vital ingredients is also essential - as these have already hindered an already under-resourced and overstretched global supply chain at a time when cases continue to surge and more contagious variants spread. As we near the G7 annual meetings and the G20 later this year, the 探花精选 calls on these wealthy countries to step up to the plate.鈥

The 探花精选 is working to get vaccines to the people who need it most in crisis-affected areas where healthcare systems are strained and people are living in cramped conditions. For instance, the 探花精选 is delivering COVID-19 vaccines to refugees and people living in conflict in areas such as Uganda鈥檚 Bidibidi refugee camp, Kenya鈥檚 Kakuma refugee camp, Jordan鈥檚 Al Za鈥檃tari Refugee Camp, Somalia and Thailand. The 探花精选 is working across three key areas: to mitigate and respond to the spread of COVID-19 within vulnerable communities; protect 探花精选 staff; and ensure the continuation of our life-saving programming as much as possible.

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