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STORY: WHO / COVID-19 UPDATE
TRT: 5:20
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 17 MAY 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Aerial shot, WHO headquarters exterior
17 MAY 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, WHO officials at press conference
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“For the second week in a row there has been a global decline in cases and deaths from COVID-19. There’s a huge disconnect growing where in some countries with the highest vaccination rates, there are appears to be a mindset that the pandemic is over, while others are experiencing huge waves of infection. The situation in a number of countries continues to be very concerning. The pandemic is a long way far from over, and it will not be over anywhere until it’s over everywhere."
4. Wide shot, WHO officials at press conference
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“WHO has been responding to the surge in cases in India and other hotspots. However, demand is currently so high that WHO needs immediate funding in order to sustain its technical and operational support to all countries – especially the most affected – involved in the present wave. In 2020, donors very generously contributed to the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. However, in 2021, the current response plan is underfunded and the vast majority of that is ring fenced by donors for specific countries or activities. This is constraining WHO’s ability to provide an adaptable and scalable response in emerging hotspots."
6. Wide shot, WHO officials at press conference
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"The surge in cases has compromised global vaccine supply and there is already a shortfall of 190 million doses to COVAX by the end of June. COVAX works and has so far delivered 65 million doses to 124 countries and economies but it is dependent on countries and manufacturers honouring their commitments. While we appreciate the work of Astra Zeneca who have been steadily increasing the speed and volume of their deliveries, we need other manufacturers to follow suit. Pfizer has committed to providing 40 million doses of vaccines with COVAX this year but the majority of these would be in the second half 2021. We need doses right now and call on them to bring forward deliveries as soon as possible."
8. Wide shot, WHO officials at press conference
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Over the weekend, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel could potentially ‘unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis.’ The health situation is also highly concerning and in the recent escalation of conflict, dozens of incidents involving health workers and health facilities have occurred. Furthermore, COVID-19 testing and vaccination has been severely impacted. This creates health risks for the world as a whole. Protection of health workers and health facilities is an imperative in all circumstances. It’s essential that the norms of international humanitarian law be fully respected. In particular, health workers and infrastructure should always be protected, and I call for leaders on all sides to ensure respect for these vital humanitarian laws."
10. Wide shot, WHO officials at press conference
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Kate O'Brien, Director, Department of Immunizations, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Authorization of vaccines for use in children, either adolescents or younger children, does open a pathway for safely protecting children who may have underlying conditions that put them at significant risk of COVID. But I think the important thing is that in the WHO/SAGE, population prioritization, moving to the immunization of people who are at very low risk of disease is much further down the prioritization list than immunizing those at highest risk of disease. And I think this is the big issue, is that we're at such a different place in some countries. We're pursuing immunizing people at very low risk for the purpose of trying to interrupt even further transmission, while at the same time there are countries who are still at the beginning of protecting those at the very highest risk of disease. And so I think, as Bruce (Aylward) has said, I think the big message here is it's time to share doses.”
12. Wide shot, WHO officials at press conference
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was a “huge disconnect growing” on the COVID-19 front. He stressed that the “pandemic is a long way far from over, and it will not be over anywhere until it’s over everywhere."
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva today (17 May), Dr Tedros said there had been a global decline in cases and deaths from COVID-19 over the past 2 weeks. He said in some countries with the highest vaccination rates, “there are appears to be a mindset that the pandemic is over, while others are experiencing huge waves of infection,” adding that the situation in a number of countries continues to be very concerning.”
The WHO Director-General said WHO was responding to the surge in cases in India and other hotspots, however demand is currently so high that WHO needs “immediate funding in order to sustain its technical and operational support to all countries – especially the most affected – involved in the present wave.” He added, “In 2020, donors very generously contributed to the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. However, in 2021, the current response plan is underfunded and the vast majority of that is ring fenced by donors for specific countries or activities. This is constraining WHO’s ability to provide an adaptable and scalable response in emerging hotspots."
Dr Tedros also noted that the surge in cases has “compromised global vaccine supply and there is already a shortfall of 190 million doses to COVAX by the end of June.” She underscored that the COVAX facility works and has so far delivered 65 million doses to 124 countries and economies but “it is dependent on countries and manufacturers honouring their commitments.” He recognized the work of Astra Zeneca in steadily increasing the speed and volume of their deliveries and highlighted the need for other manufacturers to follow suit. He said Pfizer has committed to providing 40 million doses of vaccines with COVAX this year but the majority of these would be in the second half 2021. He added, “We need doses right now and call on them to bring forward deliveries as soon as possible."
Turning to the situation in the Middle East, the WHO chief said the health situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel was “highly concerning and in the recent escalation of conflict, dozens of incidents involving health workers and health facilities have occurred.” He said COVID-19 testing and vaccination has been severely impacted and this creates health risks for the “world as a whole.” He said, “Protection of health workers and health facilities is an imperative in all circumstances. It’s essential that the norms of international humanitarian law be fully respected. In particular, health workers and infrastructure should always be protected, and I call for leaders on all sides to ensure respect for these vital humanitarian laws."
Dr Kate O'Brien, Director of WHO’s Department of Immunizations, Vaccines and Biologicals, said the authorization of vaccines for use in children opens a pathway for safely protecting children who may have underlying conditions that put them at significant risk of COVID. She said moving to the immunization of people who are at “very low risk of disease is much further down the prioritization list than immunizing those at highest risk of disease.” She said, “I think this is the big issue is that we're at such a different place in some countries. We're pursuing immunizing people at very low risk for the purpose of trying to interrupt even further transmission, while at the same time there are countries who are still at the beginning of protecting those at the very highest risk of disease. And so I think, as Bruce (Aylward) has said, I think the big message here is it's time to share doses.”
