UNICEF calls on G7 to commit to vaccine equality

(12 Jun 2021) Rich nations must do more than just donate surplus vaccines if they hope to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and G-7 leaders should deliver detailed plans when they end their summit in Cornwall on Sunday. Public health experts and humanitarian groups that are calling for money, increased production and logistical support to help developing countries where the virus is still raging. "What we don't want is for there to be lots of grand statements and commitments not backed up by detailed plans and not backed up by timelines," Lily Caprani, head of COVID-19 vaccines advocacy for UNICEF said. The appeal came after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he hoped leaders of the Group of Seven major industrialised nations will agree to provide at least 1 billion vaccine doses for poorer countries. The G-7 leaders, who are holding their annual meeting this weekend in Cornwall, southwest England, continue to debate other forms of aid to get lifesaving vaccine shots into arms. While almost half of the combined population of the G-7 nations has received at least one dose of vaccine the worldwide figure is less than 13%. In Africa, it's just 2.2%. Wealthy nations must act quickly not just out of altruism, but to protect their own citizens, because the virus will continue to mutate as long as it is allowed to spread unchecked, resulting in potentially more dangerous variants, Caprani said. Johnson, who is hosting the G-7 summit, and US President Joe Biden opened the meeting by announcing that their countries would donate a total of 600 million vaccine doses over the next year.   But International Monetary Fund economists recently estimated it would cost $50 billion to vaccinate 60% of the world's population by the middle of next year and that achieving that goal would generate $9 trillion in additional economic output by 2025. Countries like the United States and Britain secured supplies of multiple COVID-19 vaccines while they were still in development, hoping to guarantee shipments of any successful candidates. That left them with enough doses to inoculate their entire populations two or three times over after regulators approved a number of shots. They are now under pressure to provide shots for low-income countries immediately and not wait until they have vaccinated younger age groups in their own countries. COVID-19 poses the greatest risk to older people and those with underlying health conditions, who account for the vast majority of those who have died from the disease. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...