Is WHO just trying to stay relevant in the evolving Covid vaccine scenario?

IT is perplexing and dismaying to see the World Health Organization (WHO) issue several statements designed to discourage or restrain international and public enthusiasm for the prospect of a rollout of a vaccine or vaccines within the year.

You would think that as the world’s designated leader and guide in fighting global health emergencies, WHO would be the first to welcome and encourage the prospect of a breakthrough in Covid vaccine development. But here it is publicly posing as a prophet and declaring that success will not happen this year, but can only do so next year.

It seems as though WHO is taking a stand against the planned rollout by the US of a vaccine by November 1. It also seems to be dousing cold water on Russia’s claim of being first in the vaccine race with its Sputnik V vaccine project.

WHO would have more credibility in the Covid vaccine issue if it discloses the fact that it is itself actively involved in the race to develop a Covid vaccine and that it has lately faltered behind certain countries with its own program.

The fact is that WHO is leading today a global effort to develop, manufacture and distribute a vaccine to prevent the coronavirus. Upward of 170 countries hope to take part in the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) facility. The aim of Covax, which is co-led by WHO, is to speed development of a vaccine and distribute doses to all countries, getting them to those at most high risk in each country.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin got international attention with the bold claim that Russia has developed a Covid-19 vaccine, which it has dubbed as Sputnik V to commemorate the Soviet Union’s pioneering feat with Sputnik 1 in space exploration.

Then on September 1, the US announced that it will not be joining the WHO-led effort to create the Covax facility. America will go it alone in developing its own Covid vaccines. And then it followed this up with the announcement that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has instructed all US state governors to prepare for vaccine delivery by November 1.

Some members of the Trump administration were interested in the Covax plan, wherein US allies, including Japan, Germany and the European Union, were involved.

But President Donald Trump has been critical of the WHO’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, accusing it of being too focused on China and issuing bad advice. In May, Trump announced the US was cutting ties with the organization.

“The United States will continue to engage our international partners to ensure we defeat this virus, but we will not be constrained by multilateral organizations influenced by the corrupt World Health Organization and China,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.

The US is effectively assuming it will be first to find an effective vaccine.

Russia has also said the same. And China is also racing hard to develop its own vaccine.

The Geneva-based WHO’s decision to issue a preemptive announcement on the prospect of a vaccine within the year appears to be an effort by WHO to stay relevant and remain in the conversation, as Covid vaccine development appears more and more likely to come up with a safe and effective vaccine within the year.

WHO declared that it would never endorse a vaccine that has not been proven safe and effective amid concerns over the rush to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

The UN health agency welcomed the fact that a considerable number of vaccine candidates have entered final stage trials. But then it said, “In terms of realistic timelines, we are really not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year.”

WHO’s caution is understandable and perhaps responsible. But the overwhelming reality also is that the whole world and all humanity pine and pray for the speedy rollout of a Covid vaccine at the soonest possible time because the suffering has been too great and unremitting.

It does not look congruent or right for WHO to be pooh-poohing early success in the vaccine development effort.