WEBVTT
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First I want to reiterate the call of the Secretary General

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for COVID-19 vaccines

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to be a global public good

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available to everyone, everywhere.

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The COVAX Facility

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is our vehicle for ensuring equitable access.

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COVAX delivered the first million vaccine doses

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to Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire last week

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and another 4 million to Nigeria

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at the beginning of this week.

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It is expected to deliver

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a further 600 million doses to Africa

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by the end of 2021.

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The AU’s COVID-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Force

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has secured an additional 270 million doses.

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This is commendable and the continent

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is taking steps to enhance its own vaccine production capacity

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- South Africa leading the way.

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This effort is critical

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to respond to the current pandemic,

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but also a stepping stone in Africa's

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longer-term vaccine production capacity.

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But the continent is many months

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if not years away

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from accessing sufficient doses

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to achieve adequate coverage.

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This will require

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at least doubling global manufacturing

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of COVID-19 vaccines

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and fully funding the COVAX Facility.

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This is a matter of justice, it's a matter

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of fairness and self interest.

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No one is safe until everyone is safe.