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WHO / COVID-19 UPDATE
STORY: WHO / COVID-19 UPDATE
TRT: 4:26
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 26 FEBRUARY 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1.Wide shot, press briefing room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General:
"On Wednesday, Ghana became the first country outside India to receive doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX Facility and the factory in India, the Serum Institute. Just a few hours ago, Côte d’Ivoire received its first doses, and more doses will be shipped to more countries in the coming days and weeks, as we move towards our target of starting vaccination in all countries within the first 100 days of the year. We now have 43 days left."
3.Wide shot, press briefing room
4.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General:
"We have made great progress. But that progress is fragile. We need to accelerate the supply and distribution of vaccines, and we cannot do that if some countries continue to approach manufacturers who are producing vaccines that COVAX is counting on. These actions undermine COVAX and deprive health workers and vulnerable people around the world of life-saving vaccines. Now is the time to use every tool to scale up production, including licensing and technology transfer, and where necessary, intellectual property waivers. If not now, then when? I understand full well that all governments have an obligation to protect their own people. But the best way to do that is by suppressing the virus everywhere at the same time."
5.Wide shot, press briefing room
6.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General:
"When temporary waiver of intellectual property is raised, we see a lack of cooperation and even serious resistance. To be honest, I can't understand this because this pandemic is unprecedented. The virus has taken the whole world hostage. This thing happens probably once in a hundred years. And in the TRIPS Agreement, there is a provision for a waiver of intellectual property. But are people who even don't want to discuss this issue. If this provision cannot be applied now, then when?"
7. Wide shot, press briefing room
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Mike Ryan EXD, WHO Health Emergencies Programme:
"This is not over. It's not over for anybody. And any relaxation of our resolve is dangerous. And we need to, as I say, be very aware. This virus still has a lot of energy. And if the measures we apply are not persistent, comprehensive and aimed at continuing to suppress transmission while introducing vaccines, we will pay a price. And unfortunately, our communities will pay a price as well."
9.Wide shot, press briefing room
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical lead, WHO Health Emergencies Programme:
"Now you've heard us say that there are variants of concern that have been identified from some countries. WHO actually issued some definitions yesterday on our website, in our weekly epidemiologic update, which outlines proposed working definitions. I say working definitions because these may change over time as we learn more about them. But these are working definitions of variants of interest as well as variants of concern. And this is meant to help guide countries in looking at the viruses that they are detecting in their countries and looking at the full genome sequences that are being conducted by countries and to see if there are any changes in these viruses, and using these definitions, what actions they need to take to report to us, what studies need to be done in country."
11. Wide shot, press briefing room
WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “we need to accelerate the supply and distribution of vaccines, and we cannot do that if some countries continue to approach manufacturers who are producing vaccines that COVAX is counting on.”
Speaking to reporters in Geneva today (26 Feb), Dr. Tedros said, “now is the time to use every tool to scale up production, including licensing and technology transfer, and where necessary, intellectual property waivers. If not now, then when? I understand full well that all governments have an obligation to protect their own people. But the best way to do that is by suppressing the virus everywhere at the same time."
He also said that on Wednesday (24 Feb), Ghana became the first country outside India to receive doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX Facility and the factory in India, the Serum Institute.
He continued, “just a few hours ago, Côte d’Ivoire received its first doses, and more doses will be shipped to more countries in the coming days and weeks, as we move towards our target of starting vaccination in all countries within the first 100 days of the year. We now have 43 days left."
Tedros also said, "when temporary waiver of intellectual property is raised, we see a lack of cooperation and even serious resistance. To be honest, I can't understand this because this pandemic is unprecedented. The virus has taken the whole world hostage. This thing happens probably once in a hundred years. And in the TRIPS Agreement, there is a provision for a waiver of intellectual property. But are people who even don't want to discuss this issue. If this provision cannot be applied now, then when?"
WHO’s Dr Mike Ryan also spoke to the reporters. He said, "this is not over. It's not over for anybody. And any relaxation of our resolve is dangerous. And we need to, as I say, be very aware.”
He continued, “this virus still has a lot of energy. And if the measures we apply are not persistent, comprehensive and aimed at continuing to suppress transmission while introducing vaccines, we will pay a price. And unfortunately, our communities will pay a price as well."
WHO’s Dr Maria Van Kerkhove said, "now you've heard us say that there are variants of concern that have been identified from some countries. WHO actually issued some definitions yesterday on our website, in our weekly epidemiologic update, which outlines proposed working definitions.”
She continued, “I say working definitions because these may change over time as we learn more about them. But these are working definitions of variants of interest as well as variants of concern. And this is meant to help guide countries in looking at the viruses that they are detecting in their countries and looking at the full genome sequences that are being conducted by countries and to see if there are any changes in these viruses, and using these definitions, what actions they need to take to report to us, what studies need to be done in country."
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