The World Health Organization said more than 170 countries had joined its global plan to distribute vaccines equally around the world, but warned that a race to expand vaccines can lead to public protection concerns.
Trials of a vaccine in Britain were suspended this month following a disease in a participant, while Russia rejected the complaint from Western experts about the early use of its candidate vaccine.
“We are already facing demanding situations with the acceptance of vaccines for many vaccines shown,” said WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in pre-recorded commentary, when talking about a preference for expanding vaccines.
“We threaten to have an effective vaccine opposed to Covid-19 that other people reject because of the belief that it is dangerous. “
Prior to Friday’s deadline for access to its COVAX vaccine facility, Tedros said the more than 170 countries that had joined “are guaranteed the world’s largest candidate vaccine portfolio. “
WHO had said in the past that 92 low-income countries were applying for assistance through the programme, and some 80 high-income countries had expressed interest, but some still had to verify their target by the deadline.
WHO and the GAVI vaccine alliance lead the COVAX programme, which aims to purchase and distribute 2 billion doses of vaccines approved by the end of 2021.
But some countries that have secured their own materials through bilateral agreements, adding to the United States, have said they will not subscribe to COVAX.
“The first approved vaccine may not be the best,” Tedros said in a webinar organized through the National University of Singapore. “The more shots to the bow, the greater the chances of having a very effective vaccine. “
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