Agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the death toll from the disease is now at its lowest level in almost a year.  “But it’s still an unacceptably high level – almost 50,000 deaths a week, and the real number is certainly higher,” he , speaking during the regular briefing from Geneva.  “Deaths are declining in every region except Europe, where several countries are facing fresh waves of cases and deaths.  And of course, deaths are highest in the countries and populations with the least access to vaccines.”  Tedros appealed for global cooperation. “Countries that continue to roll out boosters now are effectively preventing other countries from vaccinating their most at-risk populations,” he said. 

Missing the mark 

As of Wednesday, there were more than 238 million cases worldwide, and more than 4.8 million deaths.  WHO had previously pushed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of their populations by the end of September, a target which 56 nations missed, most of them in Africa.  Tedros said even more countries are at risk of missing the 40 per cent target to be achieved by the end of the year.  Three countries - Burundi, Eritrea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - have yet to start vaccinations.   “About half of the remaining countries are constrained by supply. They have a vaccination programme underway, but don’t have enough supply to accelerate enough to reach the target,” he said.  Tedros urged countries and companies that control global vaccine supply to prioritize distribution to the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT).  Meanwhile, WHO and partners are working with other countries, such as those affected by fragility or conflict, to strengthen technical and logistical capacity for vaccine rollout.  “With aggressive and ambitious action, most of these countries can still reach the 40% target by the end of this year, or be on a clear pathway to reaching it.” 

Crisis in Tigray 

Tedros also addressed the escalating crisis in northern Ethiopia, where a nearly year-long war in the Tigray region has left up to seven million people in urgent need for food and other assistance.  The conflict has spilled over into neighbouring Afar and Amhara, further increasing needs and complicating response efforts. Aid is not reaching the area “at anywhere close to the levels needed”, he said, and communications, electricity, other basis services remain cut off.  WHO and partners are calling for unfettered access to the affected regions, as the lives of millions of people are at stake, Tedros told journalists.  “People with chronic illnesses are dying due to lack of both food and medicine. Nearly 200,000 children have gone without critical vaccinations,” he said    “When people do not have enough food, they are more susceptible to deadly diseases, as well as the threat of starvation, and that’s what we’re now seeing in Tigray.”

Agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the death toll from the disease is now at its lowest level in almost a year.  “But it’s still an unacceptably high level – almost 50,000 deaths a week, and the real number is certainly higher,” he , speaking during the regular briefing from Geneva.  “Deaths are declining in every region except Europe, where several countries are facing fresh waves of cases and deaths.  And of course, deaths are highest in the countries and populations with the least access to vaccines.”  Tedros appealed for global cooperation. “Countries that continue to roll out boosters now are effectively preventing other countries from vaccinating their most at-risk populations,” he said. 

Missing the mark 

As of Wednesday, there were more than 238 million cases worldwide, and more than 4.8 million deaths.  WHO had previously pushed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of their populations by the end of September, a target which 56 nations missed, most of them in Africa.  Tedros said even more countries are at risk of missing the 40 per cent target to be achieved by the end of the year.  Three countries - Burundi, Eritrea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - have yet to start vaccinations.   “About half of the remaining countries are constrained by supply. They have a vaccination programme underway, but don’t have enough supply to accelerate enough to reach the target,” he said.  Tedros urged countries and companies that control global vaccine supply to prioritize distribution to the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT).  Meanwhile, WHO and partners are working with other countries, such as those affected by fragility or conflict, to strengthen technical and logistical capacity for vaccine rollout.  “With aggressive and ambitious action, most of these countries can still reach the 40% target by the end of this year, or be on a clear pathway to reaching it.” 

Crisis in Tigray 

Tedros also addressed the escalating crisis in northern Ethiopia, where a nearly year-long war in the Tigray region has left up to seven million people in urgent need for food and other assistance.  The conflict has spilled over into neighbouring Afar and Amhara, further increasing needs and complicating response efforts. Aid is not reaching the area “at anywhere close to the levels needed”, he said, and communications, electricity, other basis services remain cut off.  WHO and partners are calling for unfettered access to the affected regions, as the lives of millions of people are at stake, Tedros told journalists.  “People with chronic illnesses are dying due to lack of both food and medicine. Nearly 200,000 children have gone without critical vaccinations,” he said    “When people do not have enough food, they are more susceptible to deadly diseases, as well as the threat of starvation, and that’s what we’re now seeing in Tigray.”

Agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that the death toll from the disease is now at its lowest level in almost a year.  “But it’s still an unacceptably high level – almost 50,000 deaths a week, and the real number is certainly higher,” he , speaking during the regular briefing from Geneva.  “Deaths are declining in every region except Europe, where several countries are facing fresh waves of cases and deaths.  And of course, deaths are highest in the countries and populations with the least access to vaccines.”  Tedros appealed for global cooperation. “Countries that continue to roll out boosters now are effectively preventing other countries from vaccinating their most at-risk populations,” he said. 

Missing the mark 

As of Wednesday, there were more than 238 million cases worldwide, and more than 4.8 million deaths.  WHO had previously pushed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of their populations by the end of September, a target which 56 nations missed, most of them in Africa.  Tedros said even more countries are at risk of missing the 40 per cent target to be achieved by the end of the year.  Three countries - Burundi, Eritrea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - have yet to start vaccinations.   “About half of the remaining countries are constrained by supply. They have a vaccination programme underway, but don’t have enough supply to accelerate enough to reach the target,” he said.  Tedros urged countries and companies that control global vaccine supply to prioritize distribution to the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT).  Meanwhile, WHO and partners are working with other countries, such as those affected by fragility or conflict, to strengthen technical and logistical capacity for vaccine rollout.  “With aggressive and ambitious action, most of these countries can still reach the 40% target by the end of this year, or be on a clear pathway to reaching it.” 

Crisis in Tigray 

Tedros also addressed the escalating crisis in northern Ethiopia, where a nearly year-long war in the Tigray region has left up to seven million people in urgent need for food and other assistance.  The conflict has spilled over into neighbouring Afar and Amhara, further increasing needs and complicating response efforts. Aid is not reaching the area “at anywhere close to the levels needed”, he said, and communications, electricity, other basis services remain cut off.  WHO and partners are calling for unfettered access to the affected regions, as the lives of millions of people are at stake, Tedros told journalists.  “People with chronic illnesses are dying due to lack of both food and medicine. Nearly 200,000 children have gone without critical vaccinations,” he said    “When people do not have enough food, they are more susceptible to deadly diseases, as well as the threat of starvation, and that’s what we’re now seeing in Tigray.”

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.