“The pandemic has hit the poorest and most vulnerable in our societies hardest”, Guterres said, adding that it is having a devastating impact on older people; on women and girls; on low-income communities; on the marginalized and isolated.

Noting that from the start, the World Health Organization provided factual information and scientific guidance that should have been the basis for a coordinated global response, Guterres went on to say: “Unfortunately, many of these recommendations were not followed. And in some situations, there was a rejection of facts and an ignoring of the guidance.   And when countries go in their own direction, the virus goes in every direction. The social and economic impact of the pandemic is enormous, and growing.”

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of scientists and researchers from around the world, including those who are with us today, vaccines may become available within the next weeks and months. But let’s not fool ourselves. A vaccine cannot undo damage that will stretch across years, even decades to come.”

Guterres stated that he had repeatedly called for a COVID-19 vaccine to be a global public good available to everyone, everywhere.

Underlining that the ACT Accelerator and its COVAX facility are the tools to get the world there, Guterres said that there is still a finance gap of $28 billion, including $4.3 billion urgently needed for the next two months.