WHO panel urges more vaccine aid and steps to avoid COVID repeat

Report says time between outbreak and emergency declaration was 'too long'

20210512 covax

Workers offload boxes of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines delivered to Cambodia under the WHO's COVAX initiative in March. © Reuters

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

SHANGHAI -- A World Health Organization-appointed panel on Wednesday called for rich nations to do more to promote equitable vaccine access, as well as steps to ensure greater accountability in future viral outbreaks.

In an 86-page report, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response advocates a new global health surveillance system that would give the WHO the authority to issue warnings without the approval of the country where an outbreak occurs.

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