PH pushes for enhanced cooperation vs COVID
The Philippines was among 23 countries that called on the international community to reject vaccine nationalism and enhance cooperation mechanisms and collaboration to boost the fight against the pandemic.
This, as Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. noted the Philippines recognizes that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines “should be made available to all, rich and poor countries alike.” Manila has also contributed a total of USD1.1 million to the COVAX Facility.
Locsin, during the International Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation hosted by China on August 5, stressed about four billion doses have been administered worldwide but the rate of vaccination is 30 times more in countries with the highest incomes than in countries with the lowest.
“In the Philippines, we have administered only 20 million doses for a population of more than 90 million qualified to take. We know the reason is not because we have many anti-vaxxers. We just don’t have enough vaccines,” he said.
Locsin noted that countries should adopt the World Trade Organization’s proposal to waive intellectual property protections on COVID-19 vaccines to speed up production worldwide and address the emerging virus mutations.
“In an increasingly likely future of regular booster shots for Covid, like we’ve done for the common flu, strategically dispersed local production of vaccines is a lifeline and a net cast faster, farther, and wider than any alternative strategy,” he said.
He also emphasized the need to facilitate the movement of vaccinated people across borders without discrimination based on the brand he/she received.
“All vaccines work – with some people as effectively as any vaccines that came later with the benefit of hindsight. Otherwise, it is discrimination against developing countries who got what was first on offer and what they could afford,” he stressed.
On Friday, a joint statement was released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry underscoring the importance of vaccine multilateralism.
It said that solidarity and cooperation are key to fighting the virus that causes the COVID-19.
“We must champion the vision of building a global community of health for all, put people and their lives first, and make concerted and coordinated efforts to address the challenge,” the statement said.
As a global public good, all relevant parties must step up efforts to make vaccines more accessible and affordable in developing countries, they said.
“We underline the importance of vaccine multilateralism and call upon countries to enhance international cooperation mechanisms and collaboration, reject vaccine nationalism, lift export restrictions on relevant vaccines and raw materials, support enhanced cooperation on vaccine research and development, production, equitable distribution, and ensure cross-border flows of vaccines,” it added.
The participants called on nations to increase production and capacities, and carry out vaccine research and development.
They also encouraged capable vaccine-producing countries to provide more jabs to the COVAX Facility; and for multilateral financial institutions and other international organizations to extend inclusive financial support for vaccine procurement and strengthening of production capabilities in developing countries.
