Prime Minister Suga,
Foreign Minister Motegi,
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
First, I would like to thank Japan and Prime Minister Suga for hosting this summit. Arigato gozaimasu.
Japan is a steadfast leader on global health, from universal health coverage to COVID-19.
A year ago, COVAX began as a groundbreaking global partnership, pooling risk and driving equity.
So far, we have delivered almost 78 million doses to 127 countries and economies since February – from remote islands to conflict zones.
But of the 1.8 billion vaccines administered globally, just 0.4% have been administered in low-income countries.
This is ethically, epidemioligically and economically unacceptable.
At the World Health Assembly last week, I called for a massive global effort to vaccinate at least 10 percent of the population of every country by the end of September, and at least 30 percent by the end of the year.
COVAX is key for achieving these targets.
To achieve them, we need doses to be shared right now – today – through COVAX.
We need COVAX to be fully financed, to ensure a diverse portfolio that meets countries’ needs.
We need export restrictions to be lifted;
We need companies to prioritize COVAX;
And we need to support receiving countries to use doses immediately.
Vaccines are a key tool, but they are not the only tool. Countries also need tests, treatments and other supplies, and the health systems to deliver them.
Countries with the highest vaccination coverage are now seeing a significant decline in cases and deaths.
To end the pandemic, we must end vaccine inequity.
Investing in COVAX is not charity. It’s the best investment in ending the pandemic and driving a truly global recovery.
Thank you.