Bangladesh calls for equitable access to Covid-19 vaccine

Bangladesh has called for fair and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccine to make sure all countries, especially ones that need it the most, have access to the life-saving product.

Ambassador Rabab Fatima, Bangladesh's permanent representative to the UN in New York, made the call at a virtual conversation co-hosted by Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK minister of state for the Commonwealth and UN, and Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, president and CEO at United Nations Foundation yesterday.

Kate O'Brien -- director of World Health Organization's (WHO) Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals -- and Marie-Ange Saraka-Yao -- managing director at Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) -- briefed on the approaches towards universal access to potential Covid-19 vaccines.

Fatima said although developments centring various vaccine candidates are undoubtedly encouraging, strong global commitment and collaboration to treat Covid-19 vaccine as a "global public good" is essential.