As the uncertainty around Covid-19 continues, nations from all over the world have been cooperating closely to align efforts to develop a safe, effective and globally accessible vaccine, and are hoping to achieve this goal in record time.
While restrictive measurements, including social distancing, have bought us time and given us an element of control, a working vaccine and effective treatments are what we really need to end the pandemic and allow us to begin global economic recovery.
Developing and distributing a safe and effective vaccine in such a short amount of time is a global effort. It requires determination, collaboration and continued sharing of expertise. Countries, governments, scientists and pharmaceutical companies all need to coordinate to ensure that we achieve our ambitions for a vaccine as quickly as possible. Not only will it save countless lives, it will allow us to concentrate on repairing our economies.
The UK has already committed £313m for the development of new vaccines, treatments and tests, in addition to our £1.65bn commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s vital immunisation work across the world.
The Global Vaccine Summit is also an opportunity to outline Gavi’s role in obtaining and distributing a coronavirus vaccine. Gavi is already working hard with partners to ensure that any future vaccine is effective, safe and can be delivered around the world. An equally distributed vaccine will be the world’s best defence against coronavirus, facilitating our shared recovery and reducing the risk of repeated outbreaks.
We are extremely proud to be working alongside international partners in oUK ur fight against the coronavirus. By expanding and maintaining this close cooperation, we can increase testing, develop new vaccines and treatments made accessible to everyone who needs them, as soon as possible, to end this pandemic for good.
Rachel Galloway, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to North Macedonia