“Donate doses now” in order to realize full power of COVID-19 vaccines - WHO

GENEVA, Switzerland

For the world to fully realize the full power of COVID-19 vaccines, governments need to “donate doses now”, according to the World Health Organization Director-General, Tedros Adhanom.

He made the remarks on Friday at the Munich Security Conference which brings together some of the world’s most senior decision-makers.

"First, we need governments to fully fund COVAX, and to donate doses now,” said Tedros as he highlighted three things needed to realize the full power of vaccines.

"Second, because COVAX buys vaccines that have WHO emergency use listing, we need manufacturers to share their full dossiers with WHO at the same time as they submit them to other regulators.

"And third, we need individuals to use their voices to advocate for vaccine equity. When people speak with one voice, governments listen.”

The WHO chief noted that the longer it takes to suppress the virus, the more opportunity it has to mutate, hence risk making vaccines less effective.

He assured that there will be enough jabs for everyone because more vaccines will continue to be developed, approved and produced.

Tedros also took the opportunity to assure the world that the fight against COVID-19 had made gains.

"Yes, cases and deaths are declining, we have a toolbox of proven public health measures, and we now have powerful new tools that we could only dream about a year ago,” he said.