ReutersMar 23, 2021 1:15:26 AM
GENEVA / ZURICH (Reuters) – More manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines should follow AstraZeneca’s leadership and licensing technology other manufacturers, the World Health Organization head said on Monday as he described the ongoing vaccine inequality as “grotesque”.
AstraZeneca’s shot, which new US data on Monday showed was safe and effective despite some countries suspending vaccinations due to health concerns, is being produced in a variety of locations including South Korea’s SKBioScience and the Serum Institute of India.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged more manufacturers to adopt this model to improve care, including the COVAX vaccine-sharing program designed to accelerate more shots in developing countries.
“The gap between the number of vaccines given in rich countries and the number of vaccines given through COVAX is growing and getting more grotesque every day,” Tedros said at a news conference.
“The unequal distribution of vaccines is not just a moral outrage. It is also economically and epidemiologically self-destructive.”
AstraZeneca previously released preliminary data showing that its vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was 79% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 with no increased risk of blood clots.
Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, called it a “very good vaccine for all ages”.
Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark have extended the suspension of AstraZeneca’s shot as investigations into rare blood clotting events continue.
Still, WHO officials said African countries receiving the vaccine through COVAX are making progress.
“You asked a lot of questions, but the demand for the vaccine is extremely high,” said Bruce Aylward, senior advisor to WHO.
COVAX remains able to meet its second quarter target of 300 million doses, Aylward said, while acknowledging “teething troubles” with SKBioSciences and the Serum Institute struggling to fulfill COVAX orders.
“We just can’t get enough vaccine,” said Aylward. “We hope that both companies will be able to meet the target delivery rate.”
(Reporting by John Miller, Emma Farge and Silke Koltrowitz; writing by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Giles Elgood)
This story was not edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by automatic feed.
