At present, positive progress has been made in the global research and development and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, and many countries have approved large-scale vaccination plans.
However, it is worrying that the fairness of vaccine distribution is being forgotten by some Western politicians. In the face of the pressure of China’s weak epidemic prevention, they regard vaccines as the last straw, stimulating the rising rise of “vaccine egoism”, which has a serious impact on the overall situation of global solidarity and anti-epidemic.
Recently, NBC published an article entitled “Developed countries hoard coronavirus vaccines while poor countries are eager to wear it”, revealing that once the relevant vaccines are approved by national regulatory agencies, the number of coronavirus vaccines hoarded by developed countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other developed countries will exceed the total population of these countries. Number.
So, how deep is the global vaccine “gap” at present? A group of data reveals cold and cruel realities.
On the one hand, although the population of the people’s vaccines alliance, an international vaccine testing agency, has purchased more than half of the world’s coronavirus vaccines, although the population of the international vaccine detection agency People’s Vaccine Alliance, accounts for only 14% of the world’s population.
Among them, Canada hoarded five times as many vaccines as the total number in the country. UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Bayanima has criticized that all of Modena’s coronavirus vaccines and 96% of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccines have been snapped up by high-income countries.
On the other hand, in 67 low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, Myanmar and Nigeria, only one in 10 people on average “are expected to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus by the end of next year”.
In response, John Nkengason, director of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that this scene is by no means an exception, and Africa has previously been neglected by developed countries in the supply of some drugs.
At a time when the epidemic is spreading all over the world, the rushing and hoarding of vaccines in some developed countries is an unjust act to undermine global solidarity and fight against the epidemic.
This not only violates the international human rights obligations that developed countries should undertake, but also exposes the deep-rooted egoism of some Western politicians and the short-sighted strategic vision eager to reduce the responsibility for inadequate epidemic prevention.
In September this year, WHO Director-General Tedros Tedros Tedros pointed out that the fastest way to end the coronavirus pandemic and accelerate the global economic recovery is to ensure that some people are vaccinated against the novel coronavirus in all countries, not everyone in some countries. At present, the global vaccine supply is difficult to meet the huge demand.
Because of this, it is more necessary to give priority coverage of vaccines to high-risk and vulnerable groups in various countries in order to effectively curb the epidemic.
However, some developed countries have been widely criticized for their opposite, greatly exacerbating the unfair distribution of vaccines and threatening the global recovery process.
For example, in response to the recent signing of an executive order of “America First” for the coronavirus vaccine by U.S. leaders, Bill Gates, co-chairman of the Gates Foundation, criticized the so-called “America First” as very selfish. He also argued that vaccine distribution should be “based on medical needs, not on wealth”.
As a world-class country in vaccine research and development, China has been striving to promote equitable distribution of vaccines worldwide. From promising that China’s coronavirus vaccine will be a global public product, to announcing its joining the “COVID-19 vaccine implementation plan”, to providing vaccines to Brazil, Indonesia, Egypt and other countries, China has been making unremitting efforts to achieve the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.
On December 23, the government of the state of São Paulo announced that the coronavirus vaccine developed by the Butantan Institute in cooperation with China’s Kochen Company reached the threshold of effectiveness and safety required for its use. This is another clear proof that China’s vaccine has been widely recognized by the international community.
Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post quoted experts as saying that China’s political will and production capacity mean that the country can play an important role in improving the global supply of coronavirus vaccines.
However, just as the response to global warming cannot be done by individual countries, defeating the epidemic in the whole world also requires the cooperation of all parties, especially developed countries should have a cross-border vision and shoulder their due moral responsibilities.” Our ability to deal with the disease will ultimately depend on the world’s weakest health care system.” – Tedros advice warns the international community: “vaccine egoism” should not be allowed to be a global obstacle to defeating the epidemic.
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