Malaysia has urged the WHO to address vaccine inequality as soon as possible

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

Malaysia has asked for quick action to address vaccination inequities, including more equitable distribution and dosage delivery switching by nations with excess supplies.

According to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, one of the greatest moral shortcomings in humanity's collective response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been vaccine and equality.

He claimed that despite assurances to the globe that vaccines would be available, their delivery has fallen significantly short of expectations.

"It has largely been a disappointment, with bilateral agreements taking precedence over international cooperation and global unity.

 

"Malaysia is willing to assist in technology transfer and investment to manufacture vaccines in many more locations throughout the world in order to reduce inequities."

"We hope that with the current antiviral therapies being researched and the Covid-19 vaccines for children, this inequality would not repeat again," he said during Malaysia's statements at the World Health Organization's (WHO) 72nd regional committee meeting for the Western Pacific Region.

 

Malaysia, according to Khairy, recommends that WHO develop a new equitable distribution strategy for antiviral and Covid-19 vaccinations for children, and endorses the global body's director-request general's for an international agreement on pandemic response.

He did say, though, that the accord must be not only inclusive and responsible, but also equitable and transparent.

“Inclusive may imply that we are invited to a dialogue, but equitable implies that we all reap the benefits of those discussions in a timely and equitable manner," Khairy explained.

"We are all represented here," he noted, "but transparency means we have sight of all deliverables, deals, and data."

 

According to Khairy, Malaysia uploads extensive data sets daily for anybody to access, appreciating the necessity of transparent sharing and real-time data.

Malaysia also brought up what has been dubbed the "hidden parallel pandemic" - the deterioration of mental health, particularly among young people – at the meeting.

“Lockdowns, movement restrictions, unemployment, and financial security have all contributed to an increase in the number of people seeking mental health help around the world.
"Malaysia is no different," Khairy added.