Coronavirus vaccine must be affordable, open to all: UN Chief
United Nations’ Secretary-General António Guterres in Wednesday stressed making the coronavirus vaccine, once it really is made commercially, affordable and open to mass people, regardless of borders.
He developed the call at a press meeting prior to the UN Standard Assembly (UNGA) ADVANCED Week.
Guterres noted that the coronavirus outbreak continues to be uncontrollable and the death toll from the virus would soon reach a good one million-mark.
Recognising that many pin their hopes in a vaccine, he explained, “Let’s come to be clear, there’s no panacea in a pandemic”.
“A vaccine alone cannot fix this crisis, definitely not in the around term,” stressed the UN chief. “We have to massively expand brand-new and existing equipment that can react to new cases and provide vital treatment to suppress transmission and save lives, specifically over another 12 months.”
‘Global public good’
He emphasized that as the virus “respects zero borders”, a vaccine should be seen as “a worldwide public good”, cost-effective and open to all, nonetheless it requires “a good quantum leap in funding”.
Besides, people should be willing to be vaccinated, but a proliferation of misinformation on vaccines is fueling vaccine-hesitancy, and igniting wild conspiracy theories, noted the UN chief.
He spoke of “alarming reports” that large populations in a variety of countries are reluctant, or outright refusing, to have a new coronavirus vaccine.
“In the face of this lethal disease, we should carry out our utmost to prevent deadly misinformation”, affirmed the Secretary-General.
Renewed ceasefire call
Guterres called for a worldwide ceasefire back March, recognising the coronavirus seeing as “the number one global security threat in our world today”.
And then Tuesday he flagged that could renew the charm at the beginning of the overall Debate, for the international network “to mobilise all work for the global ceasefire to become a reality by the end of the year”.
The UN chief recapped that “hopeful new techniques toward peace” have already been taken, from Afghanistan to Sudan, and a slowdown in fighting in Syria, Libya, Ukraine and elsewhere, had created a chance for diplomacy.
In Yemen, “We’re pressing for a ceasefire” he said, and even though “distrust is deep” across these and different crises, “We should persevere.”
“We should seize every beginning in the weeks ahead and make a new collective drive for peace”, upheld the Secretary-General.
The UN Secretary-Standard speaks to the press, marring the opening of the 75th session of the General Assembly.
A global in flames
The UN chief then considered other global fragilities.
“Even prior to the pandemic, the world was remote program in efforts to attain the Sustainable Expansion Goals (SDGs) and losing the battle against environment change,” he said.
Guterres recalled that the northern hemisphere was just appearing out of the hottest summer time on record and that greenhouse gas concentrations in 2020 had reached “new record highs”.
“The world is burning,” he told the journalists.
However, Guterres preserved that the post-pandemic phase supplied an opportunity to “get on monitor and tame the flames”, but that “it should be green” - aligned with the SDGs and the Paris Environment Agreement.
Global solidarity
Powerful multilateralism, gender equality and the voices of youth must participate recovery efforts.
He said on Monday, Member Claims would adopt a good declaration marking the UN’s 75th anniversary - committing to “a reinvigorated multilateralism”.
Global solidarity must transform the global economy, transition to zero carbon, ensure universal coverage of health, move towards a common fundamental income, and shift to more available and inclusive decision-making, the UN chief maintained.
And it rejects “go-it-alone nationalist approaches and divisive populist appeals”, he asserted.
In this anniversary year, “We face our own 1945 moment”, the Secretary-General said, adding that it must be met with “solidarity and unity like never before” to overcome today’s emergency, get the world moving, working and prospering again while upholding the vision of the Charter.
