By Haruna Gimba
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says with the procurement of two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the end of the pandemic is in sight across the globe.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disclosed this to reporters during an online press.
He welcomed the news that the global vaccine partnership COVAX has lined up almost two billion doses of existing and candidate vaccines for use worldwide.
“The huge vaccine reservoir means that COVAX, a 190-country international initiative that seeks to ensure all countries have equal access to coronavirus vaccines, can plan to start delivering the shots in the first quarter of 2021,” he said.
The head of WHO added that by the mid-year it will have delivered enough doses to protect health and social care workers in all participating countries that have asked to get doses in that timeframe.
He assured that all other participants should get sufficient doses to cover up to 20 percent of their populations by the end of 2021, and further doses in 2022.
Mr Tedros described the development as fantastic news and a milestone in global health.
“This is a time for taking comfort that the end of the pandemic is in sight, but taking care that we do not let down our guard. We are all responsible for taking the measures to keep ourselves and each other safe, including during this holiday season.
“With today’s news the light at the end of the tunnel has grown a little bit brighter, but we are not there yet. And we will only get there together”, Tedros said.
