GENEVA – Greta Thunberg slammed the “tragedy” of vaccine inequity, as the Swedish climate campaigner yesterday called for the world’s most vulnerable to be prioritised for Covid-19 shots.
The 18-year-old donated €100,000 (RM496,000) from her foundation to the Covax facility for global access to Covid-19 vaccines.
The donation to the World Health Organisation Foundation – from money accrued through awards, prizes and book royalties – will support the purchase of vaccines destined for the most vulnerable populations and health workers in some of the world’s poorest countries.
“The international community must do more to address the tragedy that is vaccine inequity,” said Thunberg.
“We have the means at our disposal to correct the great imbalance that exists around the world today in the fight against Covid-19. Just as with the climate crisis, we must help those who are the most vulnerable first.”
More than 900 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been injected in at least 206 territories around the world, according to an AFP count.
Some 48% of the doses have been administered in high-income countries accounting for 16% of the global population.
Just 0.2% have been administered in the 29 lowest-income countries, home to 9% of the world’s population. – AFP, April 20, 2021
