World Vision welcomes COVID-19 UK  vaccine roll out  announcement, but warns that most vulnerable must be included in future roll out  

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 – World Vision welcomes the news that the UK will begin the roll out of a COVID-19 vaccine next week, but calls on global leaders to ensure that it is not just rich countries who receive the vaccine quickly.   

News of the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 is a step in the right direction and is the positive news we all need to hear. However, we must ensure equitable roll out to those who are most vulnerable around the globe happens soon.    

“This is wonderful news with so much potential to change lives,” said World Vision International President and CEO Andrew Morley. “But the lottery of where people are born should never impact their access to vaccines. It’s a human right, and a fundamental part of our humanity is that we should all be equal. We therefore need to make sure that the great work of some of the smartest people in the world, backed by the latest technology, must not be used to entrench the inequalities faced by so many children and communities.”  

It is essential that the vaccine quickly reaches refugees in crowded camps, people living in urban slums where the virus spreads more easily, the poorest who have suffered greatly under lockdowns, many minority populations, and children made more vulnerable by the collapse of family livelihoods.     

The vaccine must be administered safely and fairly. Global leaders must ensure that first phase allocations are used both strategically to contain the pandemic, and morally to prioritise the most vulnerable and highest risk people.  In the meantime, it is critical that people continue to adhere to prevention measures designed to contain the spread of COVID-19.    

“The answers to this devastating pandemic should not be given only to those who shout the loudest or have the most money. COVID-19’s aftershocks are wreaking havoc on children’s lives, and threaten to continue to do so. Children deserve the chance to survive and thrive, to reach their God-given potential– let’s make sure they feel the positive impact of today’s positive news,” said Mr Morley.  

ENDS.   

Notes to editor:  

World Vision works in some of the world’s remotest, most dangerous and challenging environments.       

World Vision has decades of experience partnering with communities in the developing world to combat the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS, Ebola and childhood diseases.  We know that in order for the eventual vaccines to be taken up effectively we must engage communities and that the role of local leaders including faith leaders, community health and development workers is vital to ensure its acceptance.    

For more information about World Vision’s COVID response programme that has reached 54 million people in 70 countries visit  www.wvi.org/emergencies/coronavirus-health-crisis/our-impact     

For further information or to organise an interview, please contact:

Niamh Cooper |  Director of Media and Social Media Engagement | niamh_cooper@wvi.org | Skype: Niamh.cooper5 | Phone: +353 87 942 3371

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.  For more information, please visit www.wvi.org or follow us on Twitter @WorldVision