The World Health Summit, one of global health’s premier policy conferences got underway today in the shadow of an escalating COVID-19 case surge across Europe. The surge saw WHS sessions shift to an all-virtual platform – after organizers were forced to shelve initial plans for limited in-person participation in Berlin, where the annual conference co-hosted by the German government, typically draws thousands of health policymakers, experts and researchers from government, academia and industry.   

“COVID-19 is shining a light on the decisions we and policy makers are making, not only today, but also in the past,” said WHO’s Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at Sunday’s opening ceremony, in a session that included UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

“The virus thrives in the inequalities in our societies, and the gaps in our health systems. The pandemic has highlighted the neglect of basic health system functions underpinning emergency preparedness – to disastrous consequences,” Dr Tedros added. 

His comments echoed key themes in this year’s conference, which is focusing on pandemic preparedness and responses in multiple dimensions. Themes will touch on oft-polarized debates over vaccine nationalism and access to medicines  – as well as exploring more technical issues such as digital health and disease surveillance.  The conference will also touch on the broader context in which the pandemic has unfolded, including accelerating climate change and increasing non-communicable disease rates, which also make people more vulnerable to COVID-19. 

Repeating an oft-stated message, The WHO Director General underlined that robust health systems are the foundation of response now and preparedness tomorrow: “Of course, this pandemic is playing out differently in every country and in every community. But there are some constants,” said Dr Tedros. “Health systems, matter preparedness matters and doctors, nurses and health workers must have the training and equipment they need. This have been fundamental to how countries and communities are weathering this pandemic. ….Public Health is more than medicine and science. And it’s bigger than any individual, ultimately, it’s a matter of leadership at the question of political choice.”

“Vaccine Nationalism” Will Prolong Pandemic  

The WHO Director General also called upon countries to shun “vaccine nationalism” and support an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, once they become available, particularly in light of the unprecedented threat that COVID-19 poses worldwide. 

“Let me be clear, vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic, not shorten it,” said Dr Tedros. 

“It’s natural that countries want to protect their own citizens first. But if and when we have an effective vaccine, we must also use it effectively. And the best way to do that is to vaccinate some people in all countries rather than all people in some countries. 

“I will repeat. The best way to do that is vaccinate some people in all countries, rather than all people in some countries,” he said. 

UNAIDS – Vaccines Should Be ‘Public Goods’  

Speaking at the opener, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima echoed the WHO call on equitable distribution of future COVID-19 vaccines and went further – saying that the therapies  must be a “peoples’ vaccine” in order to be and fairly distributed. “To do this, pharma companies must openly share their know-how and technology for producing the vaccines” as opposed to holding onto “patent monopolies.” 

The fight against COVID-19 must be one that “places human rights at the heart of the response to the crisis, she added, citing past pandemics like the HIV/AIDS crisis of two decades ago, as an example: 

“Through the AIDS/HIV crisis, there was a global HIV response that has allowed 25 million people to get on life saving HIV treatment to live full lives. 

“Only bold and radical policy action will get us out of crises like this. Nothing less than that can work,” stated Byanyima.

“We can beat COVID-19, we can beat inequality, we can finish the unfinished business of AIDS and also repair and restore the global economy, but only without people centered, public health, rights based approach.

“The most important drivers of change during the AIDS epidemic were not those in authority, but rather, those most affected, who can bring insight, practical innovations, as well as the truth needed to guide leaders and countries forward,” she added. “To do that, governments must acknowledge that COVID-19 vaccine tests and treatments are public goods.” 

Race Towards Vaccine is a Race Against the Virus, Not Pharma Companies, says Sanofi CEO

But global leaders calling for radical action also need to remember that the world is engaged in a “race against the virus,” and companies are part of the solution, not the problem, said Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson, which is developing a messengerRNA (mRNA) vaccine candidate together with GSK, currently in Phase 2 trials. 

Hudson said that the company is committed to ensuring affordable and accessible distribution of any vaccines or health products that they produce – including “providing a significant proportion of our total worldwide available supply to COVAX,” he said, referring to the WHO global vaccine procurement facility to which over 180 countries have signed on .

“The race is not between companies; it’s against the virus,” said Hudson. 

He added that Sanofi also is collaborating with the European Union to build more resilience into the regional and global health products supply chain, in the wake of supply chain interruptions at the start of the pandemic, and consequent tensions between countries. The steps include co-creation of an  “European and global champion dedicated to the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients,” he said, “The crisis we face should not lead us to take further protectionist measures. What we need to ensure is building resilience and strategic health autonomy.” 

But he added that it’s also critical that governments around the world invest in stronger healthcare systems and infrastructure – otherwise medicines still will not reach those people who need them. 

“It is fundamental that governments around the world, despite all the headwinds, continue to invest in healthcare systems and infrastructure. We know that today almost half the world population still lacks access to essential health services.”

Added Nanette Cocero, President of Pfizer Vaccines, routine health services also need to be maintained, such as life-saving vaccinations  against existing preventable diseases. 

“Prioritizing vaccination against disease that is already preventable protects the most vulnerable among us, from newborns in maternity hospitals to older adults, for whom illnesses like seasonal flu and pneumococcal diseases pose a serious danger and disruption of immunization services” she said, adding that even “brief” interruptions can increase the likelihood of  outbreaks for highly contagious diseases like measles.” 

Added Von der leyen, the broader context of health also needs a closer look. Sounding notes on other themes such as climate change, which are also being featured at this year’s Summit, she said. “In today’s world, we need to look after our health by looking after our planet, our well being and our sustainable development. And we need to do it together through global health cooperation and not through global health competition.” 

Image Credits: R Santos/HP Watch.