United Nations published this video item, entitled “COVID-19, ‘Only Together’ Campaign, COVAX & other topics – Daily Briefing (11 March 2021)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– COVID-19
– ‘Only Together’ Campaign
– COVAX
– Conflict And Food
– Côte D’Ivoire
– Myanmar
– Syria
– Libya
– South Sudan
– Central African Republic
– Contraception
– Food Insecurity
– Environment
– Guests Tomorrow
– Financial Contribution
COVID-19
In a statement, the Secretary-General said that, one full year into the COVID-19 pandemic, our world has faced a tsunami of suffering. So many lives have been lost. Economies have been upended and societies left reeling. The most vulnerable have suffered the most. Those left behind are being left even further behind.
It has been a year of empty office buildings, quiet streets and closed schools in much of the world. The Secretary-General commends women, men and young people everywhere for adapting to work, learn and live in new ways. He honours health workers for their dedication and sacrifice, and all other essential workers who have kept societies running. He salutes all those who have stood up to the deniers and disinformation and have followed science and safety protocols. You have helped save lives, the Secretary-General says.
With the vaccine roll-out, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. Yet the Secretary-General is deeply concerned that many low-income countries have not yet received a single dose, while wealthier countries are on track to vaccinating their entire population. We’ve seen many examples of vaccine nationalism and vaccine hoarding in wealthier countries — as well as continued side deals with manufacturers that undermine access for all.
He says that the global vaccination campaign represents the greatest moral test of our times. It is also essential to restart the global economy — and help the world move from locking down societies to locking down the virus.
COVID-19 vaccines must be seen as a global public good. The world needs to unite to produce and distribute sufficient vaccines for all, which means at least doubling manufacturing capacity around the world. That effort must start now.
‘ONLY TOGETHER’ CAMPAIGN
The Secretary-General today launched the “Only Together” campaign, which calls for COVID-19 vaccines to be available to everyone, everywhere.
He said in a video message that, now, with the promise of vaccines, we can see light at the end of the tunnel.
But, the Secretary-General said, so far, a small number of rich countries are rolling out most of the doses.
No country can overcome this crisis in isolation, he said, pointing to COVAX as the best way to ensure that supply goes further, and distribution goes faster.
The Secretary-General said that only together can we protect healthcare workers and the world’s most vulnerable people. Only together can we revive our economies. Only together can we end this pandemic and recover.
COVAX
Benin received more than 140,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines yesterday through the COVAX facility.
UN Resident Coordinator Salvator Niyonzima said this was a clear result of the power of multilateralism and international cooperation. Some 70,000 frontline health workers and the most vulnerable, including people over the age of 60 and those with co-morbidities, are at the top of the list for the vaccines. The UN team will work with authorities to mobilize the entire population for one of biggest national vaccination campaigns.
Peru also received an initial batch of nearly 120,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines yesterday, becoming the second country in Latin America and the Caribbean to do so. The UN team welcomed the extraordinary result of international cooperation and solidarity, reiterating our support to a national vaccination campaign that leaves no one behind.
UN teams have been supporting health authorities with the logistics, preparation and distribution of all vaccines, not just those from COVAX.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=11%20March%202021
United Nations YouTube Channel
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