COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet and could be prolonged due to ‘scandalously unequal’ vaccine distribution, warns UN general secretary

• The UN Chief said that the global pandemic is not over yet and can further extend due to ‘scandalously unequal’ vaccine distribution.
• More than 446 million COVID-19 cases and around 6 million deaths have been reported worldwide.
• While 1.5 billion vaccines are produced every month, still around three billion people in the world are waiting for their first shots.

Marking the second anniversary of the global COVID-19 pandemic, United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday, said in a statement that even after two years the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet and can be further extend due to ‘scandalously unequal’ vaccine distribution.

More than 446 million COVID-19 cases and around 6 million deaths have been reported worldwide. He said, “The pandemic’s most tragic toll has been on the health and lives of millions, with more than 446 million cases worldwide, more than six million deaths confirmed, and countless more grappling with worsening mental health.”

He further said that the deployment of COVID-19 vaccine on a rapid scale has helped so many countries to bring the pandemic under control. India has so far administered 179 million COVID-19 vaccines.

Talking about the unequal distribution of vaccines, he mentioned that the availability of COVID-19 vaccine still remains ‘scandalously unequal’ and while 1.5 billion vaccines are produced every month, still around three billion people in the world are waiting for their first shots.

"This failure is the direct result of policy and budgetary decisions that prioritise the health of people in wealthy countries over the health of people in poor countries," said Guterres.

Even if the number of daily COVID cases declined in many parts of the world, it is not over yet. “But it would be a grave mistake to think the pandemic is over,” warned Guterres.

He also warned that this ‘two-tiered’ recovery could further bring new variants in the world, which would lead to furthermore restrictions, lockdowns and problems.

At the end of his speech, he asked people to take the pandemic seriously and take necessary precautions to end the pandemic once and for all. “Re-dedicate ourselves to ending this pandemic... and closing this sad chapter in humanity’s history, once and for all,” he concluded.

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