Bangladesh has called for fair and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccine to make sure all countries, especially the ones that need it the most, have access to the life-saving drug.
Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, made the call at a virtual conversation co-hosted by Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN, and Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO at the United Nations Foundation today.
Kate O’Brien, director, Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals of WHO and Marie-Ange Saraka-Yao, managing director at the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) briefed on the approaches towards universal access to potential Covid-19 vaccines.
Rabab Fatima said although developments in regard to various vaccine candidates are undoubtedly very encouraging, strong global commitment and collaboration to treat Covid-19 vaccine as a ‘global public good’ is essential.
Asserting that the Covid-19 pandemic is a stark reminder the world is interconnected, she said the international community has a stake in addressing this global public health challenge together.
“If we want to prevent a recurrence, we need to prepare, prevent and recover together, with an effective global outreach,” she said.
Emphasising on the importance of vaccines in the pandemic response and future prevention, and as a way to hasten economic recovery, Fatima acknowledged the great job done so far by the Oxford’s Jenner Institute team led by Professor Sarah Gilbert.
She also expressed hope that the third phase of the vaccine trial which is due to start next month will be successful in developing an effective and safe vaccine.
Highlighting the presence of a well-developed pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh, she mentioned that after meeting the country’s large domestic demands, these companies are exporting medicines to 145 countries including the regulated markets of the USA, EU, UK, Singapore and other OECD countries.
Underling their strength and capacity in producing vaccines which is double of the country’s current demand, Ambassador Fatima said Bangladeshi pharma companies will be able to produce Covid-19 vaccines for global distribution if Intellectual Property rights are waived and necessary technology is shared.
The representatives from Gavi and WHO discussed how to mobilise political and financial investment in equitable approaches to Covid-19, which are a first but essential step towards achieving the SDGs and helping the world “build back better.”
They also said that WHO and Gavi will start working to find out modalities for procurement and incentivising differential market access for high and low-and middle-income countries.
A total of 2 billion doses of vaccines are estimated to be needed globally by the end of 2021, the meeting was told.
Lord Ahmad reiterated UK’s commitment to the equitable distribution of vaccines and treatment of Covid-19 for people, and in particular for the people of South Asia region.
He further mentioned that his government has already authorised 760 million British pounds in funding Covid-19 initiatives
