UK calls for ceasefires to get vaccines to people in war zones

Fears that unvaccinated areas will become pools for development of new variants

Andrew Woodcock

Political Editor

Wednesday 17 February 2021 02:19 EST

Comments

Coronavirus in numbers

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Britain will today call for temporary ceasefires in wars around the globe to allow for people in conflict zones to be vaccinated against coronavirus.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab will tell the United Nations Security Council that the only way for any country to be secure against Covid-19 is to make vaccination available to everyone in every country.

There are fears that pockets of unvaccinated people in difficult-to-reach areas will not only result in further illness and deaths, but also provide a pool for dangerous new variants to develop.

The UK holds the Security Council presidency this month and is pushing for a resolution to call for temporary ceasefires and co-ordinated action on equitable access to vaccines.

A two-day pause in fighting was used in Afghanistan in 2001 to give 35,000 health workers and volunteers the opportunity to vaccinate 5.7m children under five against polio.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Security Council meeting, Mr Raab said:“Global vaccination coverage is essential to beating coronavirus.

“That is why the UK is calling for a vaccination ceasefire to allow Covid-19 vaccines to reach people living in conflict zones and for a greater global team effort to deliver equitable access.

“We have a moral duty to act, and a strategic necessity to come together to defeat this virus.”

The UK calculates that more than 160 million people are at risk of being excluded from coronavirus vaccinations because of instability and conflict in countries including Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Britain has contributed £548m towards the Covax scheme, launched at the UK-hosted global vaccine summit last year with the aim of distributing 1.3bn doses of coronavirus vaccines to developing countries this year.

Boris Johnson will set out further details of efforts to drive global access to vaccines at a virtual meeting of leaders of the G7 group of world powers being chaired by the UK on Friday.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies