End COVID For All has expressed its disappointment in the Australian Government’s failure to commit to further action to fight the pandemic in poor countries on day one of the G20 summit.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia will do its part to support the G20’s commitment to vaccinate 70 per cent of the world’s population by mid-2022 but has so far brought nothing new to the summit, except for pre-existing commitments to provide vaccines into our region without clear milestones and timeframes.
“Unless there is more to come on day two from our Prime Minister, Australia will have missed a vital opportunity to detail how it will contribute to the increased global efforts to end COVID-19 for all,” said Reverend Tim Costello.
“The pace of delivery to lower income nations, including those in our region, is too slow and risks leading to further lives lost and opportunities for the virus to mutate. We have so far committed to providing 60 million doses but have only delivered 10 per cent of that.”
“There is a stark contrast between G20 countries, currently planning the rollout of booster shots, and the ones left unarmed against COVID, struggling just to administer first doses.”
“Just 4.41 per cent of the Solomon Islands population has received both doses.
“Beyond our region the situation is even worse, with only 5.7 per cent of the entire African continent fully vaccinated.
“We have the capacity to act as a vaccine factory for the world but our current AstraZeneca facilities don’t plan to produce more than 50 million doses beyond January next year.
“We not only have a moral obligation to help poorer nations but it is in our best interest to stop the virus from spreading and mutating, rendering current vaccines ineffective.
“Along with ensuring a strong pace of delivery into our region for the 60 million vaccines it has committed, we are calling on the Prime Minister to commit our fair share of $250 million in financing to the multilateral COVAX facility and to share an additional 20 million vaccine doses to COVAX so it can reach those most vulnerable.
“Vaccinating the world is our best shot at ending COVID for all.”
