Encouraging more governments to join on vaccine equity, President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), Abdulla Shahid has stated that there is no return to normal without universal COVID jabs. Shahid made this statement during the recent press briefing at the UN.
“Unless we can vaccinate the world, there is no way out of this. You see different types of variants coming out, and this is going to continue,” Abdulla Shahid said.
Mr. Shahid also announced a New Year resolution on vaccine equity, calling on governments to come together on this issue ahead of a major event in mid-January.
“At the moment, I am working on a New Year’s “resolution” on vaccines. My hope is to get all 193 Member States on board by January, to coincide with the high-level event on vaccine equity here in New York. That event is going to be on 13 January,” said Shahid.
He highlighted that the goal of this is to ensure equitable access, and subsequent delivery of vaccines to everyone, everywhere, at the earliest.
“I want to see renewed political commitment and meaningful engagement to ensure universal vaccination.”
Mr. Shahid noted that the international community had missed the target set by the World Health Organization to inoculate 40 percent of the world’s population by the end of this year and that there are concerns about meeting the next target of 70 percent by the middle of 2022.
“When you look at countries in Africa where you have an average vaccination rate of maximum, 5 or 6 percent. We are unable to say with confidence that we are anywhere near to equity,” Shahid said while highlighting that this is exactly why the General Assembly must unite on vaccinations.
“The new normal will be pushed again further and further into unknown territory,” he said. “This we cannot afford, and that is why we need to get together for the effort, a united effort.”
“Unless we can vaccinate the world, there is no way out of this. You see different types of variants coming out, and this is going to continue,” Abdulla Shahid said.
Mr. Shahid also announced a New Year resolution on vaccine equity, calling on governments to come together on this issue ahead of a major event in mid-January.
“At the moment, I am working on a New Year’s “resolution” on vaccines. My hope is to get all 193 Member States on board by January, to coincide with the high-level event on vaccine equity here in New York. That event is going to be on 13 January,” said Shahid.
He highlighted that the goal of this is to ensure equitable access, and subsequent delivery of vaccines to everyone, everywhere, at the earliest.
“I want to see renewed political commitment and meaningful engagement to ensure universal vaccination.”
Mr. Shahid noted that the international community had missed the target set by the World Health Organization to inoculate 40 percent of the world’s population by the end of this year and that there are concerns about meeting the next target of 70 percent by the middle of 2022.
“When you look at countries in Africa where you have an average vaccination rate of maximum, 5 or 6 percent. We are unable to say with confidence that we are anywhere near to equity,” Shahid said while highlighting that this is exactly why the General Assembly must unite on vaccinations.
“The new normal will be pushed again further and further into unknown territory,” he said. “This we cannot afford, and that is why we need to get together for the effort, a united effort.”
