UN Chief: 11 Billion Doses are Needed to End Covid Pandemic

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• Jul 14, 2021 | moderator

United States: To end the covid-19 pandemic 70 per cent of the world needs 11 billion doses of covid-19 vaccine said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

During the opening of the ministerial segment of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, the UN Secretary-General said, “Pledges of doses and funds are welcome -- but they are not enough. We need at least 11 billion doses to vaccinate 70 per cent of the world and end this pandemic.”

“The development and roll-out of vaccines, including through the global enquiry mechanism, the ACT-Accelerator and its COVAX facility, is offering hope," said the secretary-general.

The UN secretary-general also added that the world needs a global vaccination plan to at least double the production of vaccines, ensures equitable distribution through Covax, coordinate implementation and financing and support national immunization programmes.

Further, the secretary-general stated that to implement the plan he has been calling for an Emergency Task Force that brings together the countries that produce and can produce vaccines, World Health Organization, the ACT-Accelerator partners and international financial institutions will be able to deal with the relevant pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers, and other key stakeholders.

Moreover, the secretary-general stresses that it is important to fully finance the ACT-Accelerator and support the $50 billion investment road map, which will be led by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization in the journey to end the coronavirus and to secure a global recovery.