Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID – 19): WHO Update (22 May 2020)
Originally broadcast live on the 22nd of May 2020, the daily press briefing on coronavirus COVID-19, direct from WHO Headquarters, Geneva Switzerland with Dr Tedros WHO Director-General, Dr Micheal Ryan, Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, and Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical lead COVID-19, WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “As the world comes together to develop a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, we must not forget the dozens of lifesaving vaccines that already exist and must continue to reach children everywhere.”
Speaking today (22 May) at a joint virtual press conference with UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and Gavi CEO Seth Berkley, Tedros said initial analysis suggests the provision of routine immunization services is “substantially hindered in at least 68 countries and is likely to affect approximately 80 million children under the age of one living in these countries.”
Tedros underscored that any suspension of childhood vaccination services is a “major threat to life.” He said WHO is working with governments around the world to ensure supply chains remain open and “life-saving health services are reaching all communities.”
The head of the WHO also addressed “the epidemic of misinformation” which he said had also “harmed vaccination in recent years.” He called on everyone to do more to “prevent rumours and pseudo-science from undermining public health efforts that save millions of lives.”
Tedros asked world leaders to commit at the Global Vaccine Summit in June to fully funding Gavi for its “lifesaving work.”
UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said it has been five months since COVID-19 started “upending the lives of billions of people around the world, and we know for sure that its impact on children will last long and cut deep.” She expressed fears that COVID-19 was quickly turning from a health crisis “into a child rights crisis.”
Gavi CEO Seth Berkley stressed that “if we neglect the supply chains and immunization infrastructure,” the world also risks harming its ability to “roll out the COVID-19 vaccines that represent our best chance of defeating this pandemic when they are ready.” He said the solution is “absolutely clear” and called on countries to “take every step necessary to keep this routine system going and continue to vaccinate.”
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, helps vaccinate almost half of the world’s children against deadly and debilitating diseases.
Originally broadcast live on the 22nd of May 2020, the daily press briefing on coronavirus COVID-19, direct from WHO Headquarters, Geneva Switzerland with Dr Tedros WHO Director-General, Dr Micheal Ryan, Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, and Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical lead COVID-19, WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “As the world comes together to develop a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, we must not forget the dozens of lifesaving vaccines that already exist and must continue to reach children everywhere.”
Speaking today (22 May) at a joint virtual press conference with UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and Gavi CEO Seth Berkley, Tedros said initial analysis suggests the provision of routine immunization services is “substantially hindered in at least 68 countries and is likely to affect approximately 80 million children under the age of one living in these countries.”
Tedros underscored that any suspension of childhood vaccination services is a “major threat to life.” He said WHO is working with governments around the world to ensure supply chains remain open and “life-saving health services are reaching all communities.”
The head of the WHO also addressed “the epidemic of misinformation” which he said had also “harmed vaccination in recent years.” He called on everyone to do more to “prevent rumours and pseudo-science from undermining public health efforts that save millions of lives.”
Tedros asked world leaders to commit at the Global Vaccine Summit in June to fully funding Gavi for its “lifesaving work.”
UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said it has been five months since COVID-19 started “upending the lives of billions of people around the world, and we know for sure that its impact on children will last long and cut deep.” She expressed fears that COVID-19 was quickly turning from a health crisis “into a child rights crisis.”
Gavi CEO Seth Berkley stressed that “if we neglect the supply chains and immunization infrastructure,” the world also risks harming its ability to “roll out the COVID-19 vaccines that represent our best chance of defeating this pandemic when they are ready.” He said the solution is “absolutely clear” and called on countries to “take every step necessary to keep this routine system going and continue to vaccinate.”
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, helps vaccinate almost half of the world’s children against deadly and debilitating diseases.
