Partners from industry, regulatory authorities, WRs and other WHO colleagues,
A very good afternoon.
Let me first say how pleased I am to have so many of you with us.
The WHO South-East Asia Region is a vaccine manufacturing hub, and it must play a significant role in humanity’s triumph over the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the Region and for the world, WHO is committed to facilitating and coordinating your efforts.
We undertake this meeting as Member States prepare to implement the next phase of the response.
As of yesterday, the Region had a total of 51 305 confirmed cases and 2001 confirmed deaths. This is out of 2.9 million global cases and more than 2 lakh deaths.
Country burdens are more or less aligned with the country’s share of population. India is the most affected country in the Region, with a total of 31 332 cases, followed by Indonesia, with 9511; Bangladesh, with 6462; and Thailand, with 2938 cases.
In recent days we have seen an increase of cases in Sri Lanka and Maldives, while Myanmar, Nepal, Timor-Leste and Bhutan continue to report very low or no transmission.
All countries are now preparing to safely transition towards a “new normal” in which social and economic life can function amid low transmission.
As Member States continue to assess and minimize risks, they are very much aware that we are in this together and must get through it together – that no country is safe until we all are safe, for which an effective vaccine that is accessible to all is needed.
To that end, stakeholders in the Region must be at the fore of global efforts.
Several countries in the Region are among the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers.
Every day, millions of people of all ages are provided life-saving protection by vaccines produced in these countries.
The manufacturing capacity that exists in our Region is of the quality and scale required to produce and roll-out a COVID-19 vaccine globally.
I urge all present to support and feed into regional and global vaccine efforts, which continue to gather pace.
WHO has mobilized a broad coalition of scientists, researchers and industry partners to develop and evaluate candidate vaccines for COVID-19. More than 120 potential vaccine candidates have been proposed globally, and WHO continues to track their type and progress.
Seven candidate vaccines are already in clinical evaluation; 82 vaccines are in pre-clinical evaluation.
We are also working to ensure that, once developed, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to all of humanity. To do that, we are coordinating expert consultations, developing target product profiles and supporting clinical trials.
Last week, WHO launched the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, which brings together key global health actors, private sector partners and other stakeholders to accelerate the development and production of COVID-19 essential health technologies, including vaccines, and to help guarantee equitable access.
The launch of the initiative comes in the wake of a UN General Assembly resolution through which Member States called for “equitable, efficient and timely” access for all countries to any future vaccines developed to fight COVID-19.
We have the will and the way forward. We must now deliver.
With that in mind, this meeting is intended to serve three purposes.
First, to provide a platform for Member States, industry and partners in the Region to support these efforts by strengthening regional cooperation on vaccine development and production.
Second, to get a clearer picture of the full potential of vaccine manufacturers in the three countries of the Region that have commenced, or are likely to commence, COVID-19 vaccine development and production – the three countries being India, Indonesia and Thailand.
And third, to obtain clarity on plans for COVID-19 vaccine production in the Region, including the proposed platforms to be used and corresponding timelines. As part of this, regulatory pathways for accelerated licensure must be adjusted.
My thanks to all stakeholders in the Region for their work to sustain and accelerate progress against vaccine-preventable diseases, which is essential to achieving the Region’s Flagship Priorities, WHO’s “triple billion” targets and Sustainable Development Goal 3 – health and well-being for all at all ages.
In recent years the Region has made remarkable gains against vaccine-preventable diseases, from being certified polio-free to achieving validation for eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus. Five countries have now eliminated measles, six have controlled rubella, and four have controlled hepatitis B through immunization.
As we mark World Immunization Week, we must build on our success and redouble our efforts to ensure all people in the Region can access the life-saving benefits vaccines bring.
Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique challenge. But I am certain that through collaboration and innovation we can produce a vaccine faster than ever before, while maintaining all standards.
I thank you once again for your participation today and look forward to supporting your contributions to humanity’s onward battle against this pandemic.
Thank you.