Without urgent action to boost supply and ensure equitable access to vaccines across every country, COVID-19 vaccine inequity will profoundly impact and impede socio-economic recovery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is according to the Global Dashboard for COVID-19 Vaccine Equity, a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health […] Continue reading ->
An estimated 1.5 million children worldwide have lost a parent, grandparent, or caregiver due to COVID-19, according to a new study published in The Lancet on Tuesday.  The study, which was conducted by international researchers, including scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the University of […] Continue reading ->
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has issued a list of bottlenecks and trade-facilitating measures on critical COVID-19 products, ahead of Wednesday’s  High-Level Dialogue between itself and the World Health Organization (WHO) on how to expand COVID-19 vaccines manufacturing to ensure equitable access. “One common theme that emerges from the list is that essential goods […] Continue reading ->
The World Food Program (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) launched a health emergencies project, INITIATE2, on Monday. The joint INITIATE2 project will gather health emergency actors, research and academic institutions, and international and national partners to facilitate knowledge sharing and skills transfer to improve emergency health responses.  The project will develop innovative solutions to […] Continue reading ->
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has accepted the resignation of Henrietta Fore as executive director of UNICEF  “with deep regret” and expressed his full understanding of her decision to resign. Through a statement released by his spokesman on Tuesday, Guterres thanked Fore her “inspiring leadership of UNICEF and for her service to improve the lives of […] Continue reading ->
The Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, is set to begin producing Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in September, paving the way to scale up globally available COVID vaccines.  The Sputnik V vaccine, produced by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute and marketed abroad by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), is a two-dose […] Continue reading ->