The world is on the "brink of a catastrophic moral failure" if rich countries continue to hoard Covid-19 vaccine doses while the poorest suffer, warns WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticised the "me-first" attitude of wealthy nations and also lambasted vaccine manufacturers for chasing regulatory approval in rich countries rather than submitting their data to the WHO for global use.
Tedros said the promise of worldwide equitable access to vaccines against the coronavirus pandemic was now at serious risk, in a speech in Geneva opening a WHO executive board meeting.
WHO chief said 39 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been administered so far in at least 49 higher income countries.
Meanwhile, "just 25 doses have been given in one lowest income country. Not 25 million; not 25,000; just 25," he said.
"I need to be blunt. The world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure -- and the price of this failure will be paid with lives and livelihoods in the world's poorest countries."
"The situation is compounded by the fact that most manufacturers have prioritised regulatory approval in rich countries where the profits are highest, rather than submitting full dossiers to WHO," Tedros said.
"Not only does this me-first approach leave the world's poorest and most vulnerable people at risk, it's also self defeating.
"Ultimately, these actions will only prolong the pandemic, prolong our pain, the restrictions needed to contain it, and human and economic suffering."
Latest Videos
