Vaccine nationalism will prolong pandemic: WHO chief

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for vaccines to be shared equitably between nations, as "vaccine nationalism will only prolong the pandemic".

While speaking on the second day of the World Government Summit Dialogues, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also emphasised the need for strong and resilient health systems.

He highlighted the importance of investing in universal health coverage and health security in order to tackle the pandemics of the future. 

"Health must be seen not as a cost to be contained but as an investment in productive and resilient populations, and a key to sustainable development," the WHO chief said.

In his closing statement, Dr. Ghebreyesus also highlighted the WHO’s continued commitment to supporting all countries in building stronger health systems.

مدير عام منظمة الصحة العالمية في كلمة رئيسية ضمن حوارات القمة العالمية للحكومات: الصحة استثمار في المستقبل وليست مجرد تكلفة تتحملها الحكوماتhttps://t.co/mGSMumxxpd pic.twitter.com/ToVmXXAgXM

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 10, 2021