COVID-19 vaccine expected to be ready by year-end, says WHO chief

(Karachi) World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that a vaccine against coronavirus is expected to be ready by the end of this year, Reuters reported.

Speaking during WHO's executive board meeting held to examine COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, Ghebreyesus said: "We will need vaccines and there is hope that by the end of this year we may have a vaccine." He remarked, "There is hope."

The WHO DG also urged world leaders to show solidarity and political commitment for ensuring equal distribution of vaccines when they become available.

Earlier, the WHO urged member states to sign up for COVAX facility calling it the only solution to procure and deploy a coronavirus vaccine equitably and quickly around the globe.

The WHO and the GAVI vaccine alliance are leading the COVAX facility, aimed at helping buy and distribute vaccination shots fairly around the world.

So far, about 92 low or middle-income countries and 80 high-income countries have expressed interest in the initiative, which aims to pool global demand for a successful coronavirus vaccine, and support its deployment in lower-income countries.

Countries who are part of the facility will get their hands on an effective vaccine at the best possible price.