By Grace Kuria
United Nations independent human rights experts on Wednesday urged leaders of the world’s largest economies to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for people in the Global South, urging them not to allow the profit motive to undermine global health and equity.
“Everyone has a right to have access to a vaccine for COVID-19 that is safe, effective, timely and based on the application of the best scientific development”, the panel said ahead of the G7 summit of leaders to be held in the United Kingdom starting on Friday.
The experts further stated that it was time for international solidarity and cooperation to assist all governments in vaccinating people and saving lives.
“It is not the time for protracted negotiations or for lobbying to erect barriers in order to protect corporate profits”.