Ref. Ares(2021)5446076 - 03/09/2021
○ While vaccines can and hopefully wil ultimately help the world achieve herd
immunity, they wil not be able to prevent every case, and where infections do
occur, treatment to reduce severity and speed recovery are sorely needed. The
world does not currently have a fully effective treatment for COVID. Oxygen is
still one of the only treatments available for COVID-19 in low-resource settings,
and access must be urgently improved.
The therapeutics financing gap is
estimated at $3.2 bil ion over the course of 2021.
○ Health systems must be urgently protected and strengthened to facilitate the
rapid uptake of COVID tools as well as to prepare for future pandemic threats.
The Health Systems Connector (HSC) also aims to ensure access to sufficient
supplies of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) in Low- and Lower-
Middle Income Countries (LMICs) to protect frontline health care workers and
to enhance the ability of health systems to save lives.
The HSC financing gap
is estimated at $7.3 bil ion over the course of 2021.
On vaccine donations, we understand the sensitivity around vaccine supply at the moment -
however as European politicians have been saying consistently, without global action we wil
be in a perpetual pandemic. We therefore need to organise now for a portion of doses secured
by rich countries to be deployed in LMICs as soon as possible to beat the global pandemic.
For that reason, we urge that the detailed planning on donating all excess doses must be
accelerated, working closely with COVAX, with support given to countries to make sure the
logistical and human capacity exists to distribute and administer vaccines once they arrive in
recipient countries.
The Commission has shown tremendous leadership in the global fight against COVID. We
hope to be able to count on it again as we need to take the fight to another level. We would
love to work with your team to discuss our recommendations and to amplify any commitments
you are wil ing to make in the near future.
Many thanks for your consideration.
Warmly,
Pandemic Action Network
, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW)
, The ONE Campaign
, Global Citizen
, International Rescue Committee
, Save the Children
, CARE International
, Global Health Advocates
CC: Commissioner Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
Electronically signed on 03/09/2021 17:45 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 11 of Commission Decision C(2020) 4482