COVID-19: Global vaccination plan is 'the only way out' of pandemic, says UN chief

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres stressed on Tuesday that “ only way out” of COVID-19 pandemic and present “unjust” situation is through a global vaccination plan. Speaking at a meeting in New York of Foreign Ministers of Group of 77 developing nations (G77) and China, Guterres noted how coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on both developed and developing nations. 

UN chief said that “ only way out of a global pandemic – and out of this unjust and immoral situation – is through a global vaccination plan.” 

Guterres also affirmed that United Nations supports vaccination strategy which is set out by World Health Organization (WHO) with an aim of inoculating 40% of people in all nations by end of 2021 and 70% by mid-2022. UN Secretary-General also said, “Everyone, everywhere, must have access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatment” while calling for support for ACT accelerator and COVAX facility.  

Weighing in on global economic situation, UN chief warned that world economy is projected to grow by 5.9% this year but pace of COVID-19 recovery remains uneven. He said that it is not surprising as developed economies are investing 28% of ir GDP in recovery from pandemic. While middle-income countries are investing 6.5%, least developed nations are investing 1.8%. 

For instance, in Sub-Saharan Africa, International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected cumulative economic growth per capita to be less than 75% less than rest of world, in next five years. Guterres warned, “This dangerous divergence threatens to widen as growth rates are expected to decrease in 2022. Rising inflation could also have a negative impact on cost of borrowing and servicing debt.”

'Blanket travel bans' will not prevent spre of Omicron

Meanwhile, WHO has warned against “blanket ban” imposed by over 50 nations across globe as a way to limit spre of new Omicron COVID-19 variant. As world swiftly geared up to tackle highly-mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2 after South Africa reported strain to WHO, United Nations (UN) health agency has said that travel bans will not prevent spre of B.1.1.529 variant.

WHO said, “Blanket travel bans will not prevent international spre, and y place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. In dition, y can versely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivising countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data.”

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