Currently, medical experts, governments, and pharmaceutical companies are in a global race to find and develop a COVID-19 cure and vaccine that will stop the spread of coronavirus around the globe.
With the development of vaccines being a costly process that requires vast amounts of money for research and tests, governments and pharmaceutical companies have invested highly, with the hope of getting a return on their investment once a vaccine or cure is found.
This may not be possible, as the Executive Director of The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Winnie Byanyima together with the backing of over 100 former and current world leaders and global experts have united behind the development of a ‘People’s Vaccine’ against COVID-19.
“We want all leaders to guarantee that when a safe and effective vaccine is developed, it is produced rapidly at scale and made available for all people in all countries free of charge. The same applies for all treatments, tests and other technologies,” Byanyima said.
She added, “No one should be sent to the back of the COVID-19 queue because of the colour of their skin or the money in their pocket.”
This is, Byanyima said, is intended to make sure all people around the world, rich and poor can access the vaccine once developed.
“There is a real fear that if a vaccine is developed, it may not be affordable or available for the poor parts of the world. This is unacceptable. All lives matter. That is why we are calling on all governments to unite against a people’s vaccine to protect all humanity.” Byanyima added, saying that the right to health is a right for all without discrimination.