MEXICO (Reuters) – Mexico on Wednesday called on the UN Security Council to stop countries from accumulating vaccines against COVID-19, as the poorest lag behind in the race to vaccinate their citizens.
Three-quarters of the first doses have been applied to citizens in just ten countries that account for 60% of the global gross domestic product (GDP), said Mexican Chancellor Marcelo Ebrard, while in more than 100 countries no vaccine has been applied.
“We ask countries to avoid accumulating vaccines and speed up the first stages of COVAX deliveries, to give priority to countries with less resources,” said Ebrard before the council, of which Mexico is currently a member.
Ebrard said that so far no vaccine has been distributed under the scheme. Pan American Health Organization officials said on Wednesday that countries can expect confirmation of their shipments of the COVAX vaccine soon, although the first batches are expected to be small.
In all, 190 countries have even joined COVAX, which aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines. The scheme is administered jointly by the GAVI alliance, WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and UNICEF.
“It is urgent to act to reverse the injustice that is being committed because the security of all humanity depends on it,” said Ebrard.
Mexico itself signed agreements with several international pharmaceutical companies for millions of doses for its 126 million people amid global delays and shortages of some vaccines.
(Reporting by Sharay Angulo; Writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Alistair Bell)