Filenews 21 October 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic "will continue a year longer than it should" last because poor countries do not receive the vaccines they need, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
Dr Bruce Yilward, a WHO official, explained that this means the health crisis could "easily be prolonged until late 2022."
Less than 5% of Africa's population has been immunized against COVID-19, up from 40% on most other continents.
Ayleward called on rich countries to offer their turn to the poor so that pharmaceutical companies can prioritize lower-income countries.
The WHO official pointed out that rich countries need to check where they are in terms of their donations to vaccines based on the commitments they have made.
"We're not on track"
"I can tell you that we are not on track," he stressed. "We really need to step up the pace, otherwise you know what's going to happen? This pandemic will continue a year longer than it should", he underlined.
An association of charities, People's Vaccine, has released data showing that only one in seven doses, pledged to donate by rich countries and pharmaceutical companies, is actually reaching its destination.
The vast majority of vaccines against COVID-19 have been given to countries with high or above-average incomes, while in Africa only 2.6% of the doses made worldwide have been administered.
Source: ANA - MPA
