The World Health Organization (WHO) is reportedly in the final stages of evaluating three coronavirus vaccines for international emergency distribution.
Reuters reported Wednesday that an internal document obtained by the newsline indicated that the WHO could give the green light in the coming weeks or months for the vaccinations developed by Moderna, AstraZeneca and China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac.
The WHO has already approved the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
According to Reuters, Mariangela Simao, WHO’s Assistant Director General for Access to Medicines, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals, said: “We have 3 more in the final phase to be reviewed for listing, we have submitted 2 more … In total we have 13. ”
Simao added that the WHO, the United Nations public health department, was not aware of any deaths related to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The emergency permit would allow the organization to begin distributing the vaccinations to countries around the world, primarily lower-income countries that have a reduced capacity for widespread medical distribution. The WHO also acts as a regulatory body for the health of countries that do not have independent countries comparable to those in the United States and the United Kingdom that can assess the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
The news comes on the same day as President Biden’s inauguration, who will issue a series of executive orders on Wednesday evening, including the re-joining of the US to the WHO.
Biden and Vice President Harris’s COVID-19 vaccination plan listed on the White House website includes that the administration will, “Immediately restore our relationship with the World Health Organization, which – while not perfect – is essential for coordinating a global response during a pandemic. ”
Former President Trump
Donald TrumpLil Wayne Gets Pardoned From Trump For 11th Hour Trump Grants Clemency To Over 100 People Including Bannon Trump Expected To Pardon Bannon: Reports MORE in July started the trial of withdraw the country from the WHO after claims that the organization favored China and was slow to respond to the first outbreak of the virus in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
One year’s notice is required for withdrawal from WHO. Without any action from Biden, the US would officially leave the international organization on July 6.
In a press call with reporters Wednesday, Jeff Zients
Biden’s Jeff ZientsSlew orders COVID to take up WHO membership Biden to sign fit of executive action in early hours of presidency Biden taps former FDA Commissioner Kessler to lead vaccine efforts MORE, coordinator of Biden’s COVID-19 response said: “[Today] begins a new day, a new, different approach to dealing with the country’s response to the coronavirus crisis. ”
The virus has now infected more than 96.6 million people worldwide, killing more than 2 million, said data collected by Johns Hopkins University.