As the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise globally, Dr. Mike Ryan, director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergency Program, on Wednesday called on rich nations to help reduce a global inequality in vaccine inequality.
“There are people who want and need vaccines who won’t get them until or until we start sharing better,” Ryan said during a virtual question and question on Wednesday.
In the 36 days since the countries began vaccination, 28 million doses of the vaccine have been given, he said. According to Ryan, of the 46 countries currently vaccinating, only one is a low-income country.
“We really have to look at it in terms of fairness,” Ryan said.
Ryan added that there have been 5 million new cases of Covid-19 and 85,000 virus-related deaths globally in the last week.
“In essence, all regions except Southeast Asia are showing increases,” Ryan said, noting that America still accounts for half of all new cases and 45 percent of deaths globally.
“We saw that perfect storm of the season, the cold, the people going inside, an increased social mix and a combination of factors that led to increased transmission in many, many countries,” Ryan said.
“It’s interesting, when we talk about tolerance, kindness and solidarity, that these are probably the strongest countermeasures we have now,” he added. “You have to have the attitude that this disease ends with me.”