Intervention by European Commission President von der Leyen: UN General Assembly – High Level Debate on Galvanising Momentum for Universal Vaccination

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Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am grateful to take part  in this High Level meeting on universal vaccination.

Because vaccination is the most effective response to the COVID-19 crisis.

And if we want to win the fight against the pandemic, we have to speed up – everywhere on the planet.

Europe is doing exactly that.

Let me briefly illustrate this with three different points.

First of all, the European Union is the biggest exporter of vaccines worldwide, including the successful mRNA vaccines.

Until today we have exported more than 1.8 billion vaccine doses to 165 countries, in every corner of the world.

This means that more than every second vaccine produced in Europe is exported. 

The second part is that the European Union is a lead donor of COVID-19 vaccines, mostly through COVAX.

Together with our Member States, we have shared over 400 million doses to middle and low income countries.

Team Europe has funded COVAX with 3.5 billion euros so far. 

And of course we work with many other partners – like UNICEF, or vaccine manufacturers and recipient countries – to get the doses delivered.

On time, where they are needed.

And my third point is that Europe supports other parts of the world with vaccine manufacturing.

Earlier this month, we launched the ‘vaccine equity for Africa’ project, together with BioNTech.

Already this year, we will build two factories in Rwanda and Senegal, to manufacture mRNA vaccines.

Beginning in 2023, the vaccines will be sold at not-for-profit prices, exclusively to African countries.

They will be made in Africa, for Africa, with world-class technology.

We also strengthen the regulatory frameworks, and transfer skills and know-how.

And for all of this, Team Europe has committed at least 1 billion euros in support.

We are of course also ready to work with other partners, notably in Latin America.

And besides that, Europe is actively engaged in discussions at the WTO to facilitate the use of patents for COVID-19 vaccine production, while preserving the incentives to innovate.

Because we need to expand global production of vaccines and other health tools. Regional capacities are the cornerstone of global public health.

Yes, this pandemic is unprecedented in our history.

But so is the response of the European Union.

There is no question: More can and needs to be done. 50 percent of the global population is vaccinated.

Together, we can reach 70 percent mid this year. If we step up our efforts especially in Africa.

That is why Team Europe will donate 450 million doses for Africa by this summer.

We are united in our mission.

Because we will only control this pandemic if we fight it together in every corner of the world.

Thank you!

Watch the video address here.