The health ministers of the 20 most important industrialized and emerging countries (G20) committed themselves yesterday evening in the so-called “Pact of Rome” to provide the entire world population with access to corona vaccines.
“The Rome Pact was unanimously adopted by all G20 countries. The aim is to bring vaccines to the poorest countries in the world,” said Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza at the end of the two-day meeting in Rome. Italy currently holds the G20 presidency.
“Otherwise there are new variants”
In addition, according to Speranza, major investments should be made in health systems. By the end of 2021, 40 percent of the world’s population should be vaccinated in accordance with the World Health Organization.
“During these weeks we have jointly determined that the extent of inequality between the countries is too high and therefore unbearable,” said Speranza. The weakest countries must be helped immediately with vaccination campaigns. “If we leave part of the world without vaccines, we will soon have new variants. Nobody should be left behind,” said Italy’s health minister.
The EU Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides had previously called for “vaccination solidarity”. This is a “geopolitical necessity”. Since December 2020, the EU has exported 700 million doses of vaccine to 130 countries. “Despite these efforts, some countries have still not received a vaccine,” said the European Commissioner.
In their final declaration, the states committed to work on global access to safe and affordable vaccines and therapies against Covid-19.
