On the 25th local time, the World Health Summit opened in Berlin, the capital of Germany. German President Steinmeier delivered a video speech calling for the new crown vaccine as a global public product. He emphasized that until all countries can effectively control the epidemic, no country is truly safe. Only when the international community is united can we tide over the epidemic together.
At the same time, Steinmeier pointed out that although it is understandable that the government is trying to reserve as much vaccine inventory as possible from manufacturers in order to protect the health and safety of its people, it must firmly avoid “vaccine nationalism.” Because nearly half of the world’s population lives in countries that cannot afford vaccine-related costs but are also suffering from the epidemic. However, if a large number of the initial limited candidate vaccine resources are taken by rich countries, it will greatly reduce the vaccine stocks available to vulnerable groups in poor countries and threaten global efforts to fight the epidemic.
It is worth mentioning that Steinmeier believes that the whole world should strongly support the “New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan.” In his view, this plan created by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the World Health Organization and the Alliance for Epidemic Prevention Innovation in April this year can effectively improve the efficiency of vaccine development and lay the foundation for the rapid production and global popularization of vaccines. In his speech, Steinmeier specifically called on the United States to support international efforts for the equitable distribution of vaccines. He hoped that Washington would also pledge to join the “New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan” as soon as possible.
In addition, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres stated at the summit on the 25th that although the new crown epidemic is the most serious crisis encountered by modern society, as long as all countries follow the research findings of scientists and strengthen mutual cooperation, they will surely be able to overcome this pandemic. disease. The Director-General of the World Health Organization Tan Desai also believes that in order to withstand the huge test brought about by the epidemic, the international community’s joint efforts are the only solution. European Commission President Von der Lein emphasized that the fight against the new crown epidemic can become a model for united efforts to respond to the global public health crisis. In this process, clear leadership is indispensable. The EU should shoulder this responsibility.
It is reported that the World Health Summit is an annual academic forum founded in 2009 by German Chancellor Merkel and French Chancellor Macron as guardians. It aims to improve global health. It attracts thousands of scientific, policy, and medical personnel every October And high-level decision makers in public health and other fields gathered in Berlin. This World Health Summit will last until the 27th, focusing on the latest findings of the new coronavirus, global epidemic response and prevention strategies, and the role played by Europe and the World Health Organization in the field of global health. Due to the recent increase in the epidemic in Berlin, the offline summits that were originally scheduled to have about 2,000 people were all changed to online.
