WHO Secretary-General Urges "10% Vaccination Coverage in All Countries by September"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged that by September, at least 10% of the population in every country should be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated this on the 24th (local time) during the opening speech of the 74th World Health Assembly (WHA), saying that vaccine inequality between wealthy and poor countries is "perpetuating the pandemic."

He said, "The world is still in a very dangerous situation," and predicted, "At the current rate, the number of deaths will surpass last year's total within the next three weeks." He also pointed out, "A small group of countries that produce and purchase most of the vaccines worldwide are determining the fate of the remaining countries."

He then called for donations of vaccines to COVAX, the international project for joint purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, so that 10% of all countries' populations can be vaccinated by September and 30% by the end of the year.

Additionally, he demanded that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers either grant COVAX priority purchasing rights for newly produced vaccines or commit to providing 50% of their production to COVAX this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.