Posted on: Fri 16-04-2021

An international advocacy organisation, Global Citizen, known for advocacy work and impactful campaigns in support of pressing social issues, has urged world leaders to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines around the globe.

The focus is particularly on supporting the world’s poorest countries, many of which are lagging in their COVID-19 vaccine rollouts.

According to a statement by the organisation, VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World — a broadcast and streaming special — will take place on Saturday, May 8, 2021, to canvass support and donations for the millions of frontline workers who still need to be vaccinated.

“As a global community, we are in a race against time and the key to coming back together is the vaccine. We need to build vaccine confidence in the United States and globally, and encourage people to take the vaccine as quickly as possible.

“There is a light at the end of this tunnel, but getting vaccines to everyone and everywhere regardless of who they are or where they are from, is key to ensuring the end of this pandemic around the world. We must all unite to get back on track to eradicate extreme poverty,” said Hugh Evans, Global Citizen Co-Founder & CEO.

Also, the statement quoted the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, as saying: “We will not see an end to the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown to our economies without access to the people’s vaccine. To get this done, it is imperative that more resources are made available, that surpluses from wealthier nations are shared immediately with frontline workers in lower-income countries, and that the production of vaccines is accelerated.”

Executive Director for UN Women, Phumizile Mlambo-Ngcuka, added: “Over the past year, it has become increasingly clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health issue but also a social issue. Global Citizen is calling on governments, companies, and philanthropists to pledge the remaining $22billion the ACT-Accelerator needs to get two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, as well as tests and treatments to countries that need them by the end of 2021.”

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