PORT OF SPAIN: 16TH APRIL, 2021
Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne participated virtually at the High-Level United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting on “A Vaccine for All”, which was held on 16th April, 2021.
The Minister stated that the COVID-19 Pandemic and its attendant impacts have landed heavily on the developing world. For Small Island Developing States, such as Trinidad and Tobago, it has laid bare the profound fragilities of our interconnected economies and societies, decimating key sectors. He continued that following the development of the vaccine the actions of many were not guided by science and responsibility to humanity but by domestic political pressures. In his statement, the Honourable Minister highlighted that many developing countries are still in the starting blocks of vaccinating their populations, and among those who pay the highest price of exclusion are Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Minister also reiterated CARICOM’s call to the World Health Organization to convene a Global Summit to address inequitable access to vaccines.
The High Level Meeting is aimed to address the ongoing efforts to mobilize a coordinated and coherent global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts on people by bringing together countries, the United Nations system, the private sector and civil society to address the issue of vaccine availability equity. Consideration in the meeting was given to production, financing, access, infrastructure, country-preparedness, supply and distribution, in relation to the COVID-19 Vaccine.
Global solidarity and transformative actions in relation to COVID-19, are needed to recover and build back better in an inclusive and sustainable way for all countries. Affordable and timely access to vaccines is an essential step to save lives and livelihoods everywhere.
Trinidad and Tobago through its participation of the High-Level United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting on “A Vaccine for All” demonstrated its enduring commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation and its support for the treatment of COVID-19 vaccination as a global public good by ensuring affordable and fair access to vaccines for all.
