PM’s proposal for equitable access to vaccines commendable

We commend the three-point proposal placed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the 31st special session of the United Nations General Assembly. The proposal include ensuring universal and equitable access to quality Covid-19 vaccine, transferring technology to developing countries to manufacture it locally, and providing them with financial assistance to face challenges in the wake of the pandemic. Pointing out that the 2030 development agenda recognised the fundamental role of Universal Health Coverage for achieving the SDGs guided by the principle of equity, the PM said that when it comes to access to vaccines, no one should be left behind. 

As Bangladesh along with other countries of the world have been waiting to get Covid-19 vaccines, a US public health expert recently said that the vast majority of people in Bangladesh and other parts of the world would have to wait longer than expected due to limited global capacity of vaccine production. The current world population is around 7.8 billion and over 15 billion doses of vaccines are needed to address it globally. However, only 7 percent people of the world will be covered in the first six months considering the production capacity of three promising vaccines, according to the US expert. This is worrying news for us because already at least 6,748 people have lost their lives to the virus and hundreds are getting infected every day.

In this context, the PM's proposal that the developed countries should commit to transferring technology for the local manufacturing of vaccines in developing countries using IP rights waiver under the TRIPS Agreement should be given heed to. If we cannot get the vaccines from other countries within a short time, we should have the ability to produce them on our own. Thus such technology transference can save thousands of lives.

Our pharmaceutical companies have a good reputation for producing quality life-saving medicines and delivering them to many countries of the world. And we believe, we can also produce our own vaccines. But for that, we need to increase our capacity first. Here we need the help of the developed countries. Only strong global commitment and collaboration can provide vaccines equitably around the world. And we hope to see that being the case.