By Grace Kuria
The International Monetary Fund has estimated that faster access to vaccinations for high-risk populations could potentially save more than half a million lives in the next six months alone.
“The world is facing a worsening two-track recovery, driven by dramatic differences in vaccine availability, infection rates, and the ability to provide policy support. It is a critical moment that calls for urgent action by the G20 and policymakers across the globe.” IMF said.
Low vaccination rates therefore mean that poorer nations are more exposed to the virus and its variants.
“While the Delta variant is raising concerns everywhere, including in G20 nations, it is now driving a brutal surge in infections in sub-Saharan Africa. In that region, less than 1 adult in a hundred is fully vaccinated, compared to an average of over 30 percent in more advanced economies.”
“Unvaccinated populations anywhere raise the risk of even deadlier variants emerging, undermining progress everywhere and inflicting further harm on the global economy.” It stated.
The World Health Organization also stated that the meeting by G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors later this week is another crucial opportunity for leaders to take urgent steps to end the acute stage of this pandemic, providing the necessary funding to scale up the equitable manufacturing and distribution of health tools.
“I have called repeatedly for 10 percent of people in all countries to be vaccinated by September and for that figure to rise to 40 percent by the end of the year.” WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom said.
“It would position the world on the path to vaccinating 70 percent of the people in all countries by the middle of 2022.” He added.
The Director General further called on the G20 Finance Ministers and other leaders to get behind these targets collectively because it is the fastest way to end the acute stage of the pandemic, save lives and livelihoods and drive a truly global economic recovery.
(With input from IMF and WHO)
