CARICOM:“Dissatisfied and deeply concerned about inequitable access to vaccines”

276

Published by BBN Staff at February 27, 2021

Tags

Posted: Saturday, February 27, 2021. 11:13 am CST.

By BBN Staff: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has issued a statement expressing its “dissatisfaction” and concern about the inequitable access to vaccines for small developing states like those of the Community.

CARICOM is calling for equitable access to vaccines in order to curb the impact of the pandemic, to protect our citizens and bolster the economy.

“As the virus does not discriminate, access to vaccines should not be discriminatory, with a few countries dominating the market with their resources and their volumes,” CARICOM noted.

CARICOM heads of government also stated that even countries with the funds to purchase, have been unable to procure and receive vaccines through commercial arrangements, given the relatively small volumes which they seek.

CARICOM Member States asserted that even though, they have signed onto the COVAX Facility, the only vaccines received in the region to date were through the generosity of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who has donated 170,000 vaccines to Barbados and Dominica through bi-lateral arrangements.

CARICOM thanks PM Modi for his generosity and the people and governments of Barbados and Dominica for having shared their initial supplies which were received from India.

“Heads of Government therefore call for a mechanism that allows smaller countries to have access to sufficient vaccines at the earliest juncture, if action is to be put behind the oft-repeated phrase that “no-one is safe until everyone is safe,” the statement added.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.