UNGA organises meeting on Covid-19 vaccines on request by Qatar and 15 other countries

The President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir conducted an informal meeting at the request of countries such as Qatar, Lebanon, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, India, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Senegal, Sweden and the United Kingdom, that prepared the ‘Political Declaration on Equitable Global Access to Covid-19 Vaccines’, in order to announce the launch of the Joint Political Declaration that 181 countries joined until the date of the session.

The declaration calls out for all member states to make sure that every country has access to vaccines in a comprehensive, equitable, affordable and timely manner, as part of the response efforts to the restrict the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. UNGA also called out on the elimination of gaps in receiving Covid-19 vaccines.

The political declaration highlighted that ‘no one can be safe until everyone is safe,’ and that equitable and affordable access to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines must be made sure that it is put into the place where speedy recovery is possible and contribute to putting an end to the disruptive epidemic.

The declaration also urged all governments and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to carry out relevant UN resolutions and dedication made, especially on international cooperation to make sure equal access to safe and efficacious medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face Covid-19.

The countries sponsoring the political declaration also conveyed their individual concern about the low availability of Covid-19 vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. In this regard, they welcome the efforts of countries which have donated Covid-19 vaccines, and encourage further sharing of vaccine doses from all countries to do so, to low- and middle-income countries and other countries in need, particularly through COVAX Facility, including on the basis of the WHO allocation framework, for fair access and equitable allocation of Covid-19 health products.

The political declaration concluded that member states must significantly raise their support to the COVAX contracts with vaccine producers, not restricting the availability of vaccines as a result of competing bilateral contracts.

United General Assembly Covid-19 Vaccination session Political Declaration on Equitable Global Access Qatar News Qatar Day Qatar