Good morning, good afternoon and good evening.
From the beginning of the pandemic, we knew that we would need vaccines to end it.
But we also knew that without concerted action, there was a risk that low-income countries would miss out on vaccines, once they arrived.
That’s why in April, together with partners including Gavi, CEPI and UNICEF, WHO established the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, which includes COVAX.
Today, we are proud to announce that COVAX has secured access to almost 2 billion doses of several promising vaccine candidates.
These unprecedented agreements mean that all 190 countries and economies participating in COVAX will be able to access vaccines to protect vulnerable groups in their populations during the first half of next year.
This is fantastic news, and a milestone in global health. I would like to thank and congratulate all our partners in COVAX, as well as AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and the Serum Institute of India for their efforts so far.
Images of people receiving vaccines are giving us hope, but it must be hope for all, not hope for some.
For most of the past year we have been talking to world leaders and vaccine developers to ensure that once vaccines were available, they were available equitably to all countries.
Just this week I have spoken with CEOs of pharmaceutical companies, and met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, to discuss this urgent moral, economic and public health imperative.
WHO and our COVAX partners are working non-stop to start vaccination early next year.
At the same time, our message to all countries is that vaccines will complement, not replace, the existing effective tools we have for suppressing transmission and saving lives.
This is a time for taking comfort that the end of the pandemic is in sight, but taking care that we do not let down our guard.
We are all responsible for taking the measures to keep ourselves and each other safe, including during this holiday season.
With today’s news, the light at the end of the tunnel has grown a little bit brighter. But we are not there yet, and we will only get there together.
Thank you.