VIDEO CONFERENCE GLOBAL VACCINE SUMMIT
Bern, 04.06.2020 - Address by H.E. Mrs Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation, 04.06.2020
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I will never forget the sight of patients who were no longer able to breathe without help in my country’s hospitals. We must do everything in our power to prevent a repeat of this suffering, especially as the global fight against this pandemic continues.
That is why any vaccine developed against COVID-19 has to be available worldwide, also in low- and middle income countries. I would therefore like to thank the United Kingdom for hosting this very timely summit. The prospect of developing a vaccine gives us the hope that we can end this crisis.
Scientists are working around the clock, collaborating in an exceptional manner, to develop a vaccine that is safe and effective.
The acceleration of research, development and production of such a vaccine, as well as its equitable distribution, are goals shared by Switzerland. We are fully committed to helping to achieve them.
There are many obstacles along the way, and we have to take decisions under a great deal of uncertainty. Yet I am convinced that these goals can be achieved by applying a collaborative and pragmatic approach, with the support of key institutions in the multilateral framework. Meanwhile, we must also maintain the provision of essential health services regarding other infectious diseases.
Switzerland supports research and development on COVID-19 at national and international level, for instance by providing financial contributions to CEPI and to the WHO. Access to diagnostics, treatments and vaccines against COVID-19 is at the heart of Swiss international support in this crisis.
GAVI can help ensure that the future vaccine also reaches people in the poorest countries. I have the pleasure to announce that Switzerland will contribute 30 million (US) dollars to GAVI over the next four years, as part of a total contribution of 75 million dollars to the Coronavirus Global Response.
To overcome this pandemic, I am convinced that what we need is solidarity and international cooperation in a multilateral setting, with the WHO at the center.
Thank you very much.
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