G20 Leaders Committed to Achieving Global Vaccination Target set by WHO

Group photo session during the G20 Summit, Rome, Italy, Saturday (30/10). (Photo by: Media Pool for the G20 Rome Summit)

The leaders of G20 countries have discussed joint efforts to escape health and economic crises due to the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed on the importance of achieving a global vaccination strategy set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The leaders expressed their viewpoints on the need to vaccinate 40 percent of the population by the end of this year and 70 percent by mid-2022. This is actually a global strategy outlined by the WHO and supported by the G20 leaders,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi said at the Hotel Splendide Royal, after accompanying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the G20 Summit in La Nuvola, Rome, Italy, Saturday (30/10).

The G20 leaders also underlined close cooperation between Minister of Finance and Minister of Health, as well as international organizations such as the WHO, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and others related to the availability of funds in dealing with the pandemic.

According to the Minister, President Jokowi in his statement highlighted the importance of strengthening an inclusive global health architecture that adheres to the principles of solidarity, justice, transparency, and equality.

“The President proposed several measures, including establishing a mechanism for raising global health resources, developing a global health protocol standard for cross-border activities, optimizing the role of the G20 in efforts to address the scarcity and inequality of vaccines, medicines, and essential medical devices,” she said.

In addition to strengthening global health resilience, the President reiterated the importance of accelerating a stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable global economic recovery.

Currently, the G20 leaders have common views that the pandemic situation is not over and the global economy has not bounced back. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (RIF/MMB)