While the number of Covid-19 cases continues to increase globally, Dr. Mike Ryan, director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergency Program, called on Wednesday for wealthy nations to help bridge a global inequality gap in vaccine.
“There are populations that want and need vaccines that won’t get them unless or until we start sharing better,” said Ryan during a virtual question and answer session on Wednesday.
In the 36 days since countries started vaccinating, 28 million doses of the vaccine have been administered, he said. According to Ryan, of the 46 countries that are currently vaccinating, only one is a low-income country.
“We really have to look at this in terms of equity,” said Ryan.
Ryan added that there were 5 million new cases of Covid-19 and 85,000 virus-related deaths worldwide last week.
“Essentially, all regions except Southeast Asia are experiencing increases,” said Ryan, noting that the Americas still account for half of all new cases and 45% of deaths globally.
“We saw that perfect storm of the season, the cold, the people coming in, the increase in social mix and a combination of factors that increased transmission in many countries,” said Ryan.
“It is interesting when we talk about tolerance, kindness and solidarity, which are probably the most powerful countermeasures we have now,” he added. “You have to have the attitude that this disease ends me.”