United Nations (UN) has launched ‘Only Together’ campaign to support its call for fair and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines around the world.

The campaign, according to the UN, is aimed at ensuring vaccines are accessible in all countries, starting with health care workers and the most vulnerable people.

More than 2.5 million people around the world have died from Covid-19, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Public health experts agree that vaccination remains the only realistic path to finally halting the spread of the virus.

‘Over the past year, we have all missed out on doing the things we love to do with others – eating, hugging, and going to school and work’, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said.

‘Millions of us have lost someone we love or had our livelihoods taken away.

‘An unprecedented global scientific effort for vaccines has given us hope to defeat the virus – but only if we work together to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to Covid-19 vaccines’.

The biggest vaccine rollout in history is now underway with millions of doses being delivered around the world, including to some of the world’s poorest countries, through the efforts of COVAX, the global vaccine equity mechanism.

COVAX, which is led by the WHO, GAVI and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and in partnership with UNICEF, has 190 participating countries.

It needs more than two billion dollars to fully meet its goal to vaccinate those most in need by the end of 2021.

Africa seeks to vaccinate about 780 million people, representing some 60 percent of its population of 1.3 billion.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), 1.5 billion doses are needed, assuming two doses per person, estimating the effort will cost some $10 billion.

Source: UN News

Photo source: Africa CDC