UN head stresses need of virus vaccine for all nations

secretary general of United Nations on Friday stressed that as wealthy nations roll out coronavirus vaccine for ir citizens, world also needs to ensure it is available for “everyone, everywhere.” In an dress to Germany's parliament, Antonio Guterres praised researchers from Germany's BioNTech who teamed up with U.S. giant Pfizer and beat rivals in race to put first thoroughly vetted vaccine on market.

He said that every German should be “very proud of ir achievements.” Our challenge w is to ensure that vaccines are treated as a public good — accessible and affordable to everyone, everywhere," he said according to his prepared remarks.“A people's vaccine.”

He said U.N. was also committed to providing news and vice people can trust and working to build confidence in vaccine “guided by science, grounded in facts” to combat what he called “virus of misinformation.” “Across globe we have seen how populist approaches that igre science have misled public,” Guterres said. “Coupled with false news and wild conspiracies, things have become manifestly worse.”

He also heaped praise on Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying her “-nsense, stey, compassionate and wise guiding hand” h helped steer Germany through pandemic.“I commend your early and decisive steps driven by science, local data and local action that suppressed transmission of virus and saved lives,” he said.

(Im Credit: AP)