The World Health Organization (WHO) is reportedly in the final stages of reviewing three coronavirus vaccines for international emergency distribution.
Reported by Reuters Wednesday that an internal document obtained by the news agency indicated that WHO could in the coming weeks or months give the green light to vaccines developed by the Moderna, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm and Sinovac of China.
WHO has already approved the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
According to Reuters, Mariangela Simão, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines, vaccines and drugs, said: “We have 3 more in the final stages to be evaluated for listing, 2 more are still submitting … In total , we have 13. ”
Simão added that WHO, the United Nations public health division, was not aware of any deaths related to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Emergency approval would allow the organization to begin distributing vaccines to countries around the world, especially low-income countries that have a reduced capacity for widespread medical distribution. WHO also acts as a health regulatory council for countries that do not have independent bodies similar to those in the United States and the United Kingdom, which are able to review the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
The news arrives on the same day as President Biden takes office, who is expected to issue a series of executive orders on Wednesday night that will include the United States’ re-entry into WHO.
Vaccination plan COVID-19 by Biden and Vice President Harris listed on the White House website includes that the administration will, “Immediately restore our relationship with the World Health Organization, which – while not perfect – is essential to coordinating a global response during a pandemic. ”
Old President Trump
Donald TrumpLil Wayne gets Trump forgiveness in the 11th hour Trump grants clemency to more than 100 people, including Bannon Trump must forgive Bannon: reports MORE in July started the process of withdrawing the country from WHO then he claims that the organization had a tendency towards China and that it was slow to respond to the initial outbreak of the virus in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
WHO withdrawal requires one year notice. Without any action by Biden, the United States would officially leave the international body on July 6.
Inside a press call with reporters Wednesday, Jeff Zients
Jeff ZientsSlew of Biden orders COVID to include resuming WHO membership. Biden is expected to sign a series of executive actions in the early hours of the presidency. Biden calls on former FDA commissioner Kessler to head vaccination efforts MORE, coordinator of Biden’s COVID-19 response said: “[Today] a new day begins, a new, different approach to managing the country’s response to the coronavirus crisis. ”
The virus has infected more than 96.6 million people worldwide, with more than 2 million dead as a result, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.