STOP STOCKPILING VACCINES, URGES PM
Vaccine-producing economies urged to share to increase vaccination rate
VACCINE-producing economies must avoid stockpiling vaccines and share them with economies-in-need, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Calling on all Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) countries to strengthen collaboration towards equitable, affordable and accessible Covid-19 vaccines for all, he added that vaccine nationalism and vaccine stockpiling were counterproductive in efforts to increase the global vaccination rate, clearing the path for recovery across economies.
He said the success of vaccination programmes or high rate of inoculation was linked to the ability to speed up the economic recovery process and described Covid-19 vaccines as the “lifeline of our people”.
“In this regard, we must ensure that the stark global vaccination gap is not a hurdle in our effort to achieve herd immunity.
“We must act sensibly to ensure that no economy is left at the end of the Covid-19 vaccines’ line,” he said in his speech at the Apec Informal Leaders’ Retreat last night.
Muhyiddin said Malaysia, while underscoring the importance of preserving incentives for innovations, supported global initiatives to boost global vaccine capacities through negotiations at the World Trade Organisation on the temporary waiver of certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (Trips) Agreement.
This, he added, was a step in the right direction as extraordinary circumstances called for extraordinary measures.
“I also understand that negotiations consume time. Thus, I plead for vaccine-producing economies to avoid vaccine stockpiling and share the vaccines with economies-in-need.”
He said while it was comforting to witness the return to a certain level of normalcy in some economies, many other countries were struggling to regain economic stability.
This “divergent fate”, he added, was a cause for concern, and said in a globalised world, all countries were interdependent and interconnected, necessitating economies to collectively take immediate and steadfast actions.
Muhyiddin also stressed on the need for closer cooperation in facilitating movement of essential goods and services.
“I do believe that the recent
joint statement by our trade ministers manifest a resolute commitment in addressing these challenges.
“The Apec region must not be seen to be the antithesis to open trade and investment. We must reject protectionism by not introducing new trade-restrictive measures during this critical time, while innovating new initiatives to facilitate the supply chain,” he said.
One quick win for Apec, which the region does naturally and efficiently, he said, was the sharing of information.
“This simple and collaborative effort would go to great lengths in
increasing the visibility of the supply chain to reduce risks, address bottlenecks, avoid exorbitant pricing and scarcity of supply.”
Muhyiddin also noted that the pandemic had greatly impacted people-to-people connectivity, with cross-border travels being regarded as a high-risk activity, and called upon Apec economies to discuss a potential solution to the matter.
“Some may say that it is the crux of the problem. Reopening our borders in this era of the pandemic is precarious, as it requires extremely careful planning and a high level of confidence from all parties.
“On this note, I applaud (Japanese) Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Japan for organising the biggest sporting event, the Olympic Games 2020, which will convene next week.”
He said the organisation of the event was a testament to how cross-border travels could be carried out under stringent conditions and controlled environment.
He also called on Apec to find a middle ground in reviving the tourism industry and people-topeople connectivity in the region in a safe and trusted environment.
“On this note, I call for Apec economies to discuss potential regulatory coherence on establishment of travel bubbles and quarantine arrangements, or mutual recognition of vaccination certification documents, without undermining the global requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the World Health Organisation.
“When the time is right, all these practical solutions would be the answer in facilitating seamless people-to-people connectivity in the region,” said Muhyiddin.
The prime minister said he was hopeful and optimistic that the important deliberations and critical recommendations from the informal retreat would form the basis for future knowledge-sharing and capacity-building programmes in Apec.
“Some of these could also find its way to be included in the Implementation Plan of the Apec Putrajaya Vision 2040.”