WHO chief calls for an end to 'vaccine nationalism'

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday called on the world to avoid a nationalistic approach to medical equipment supply distribution and vaccine supplies amid the ongoing fight with the COVID-19 pandemic.

A nationalistic approach to supply distribution has exacerbated the novel coronavirus pandemic and has contributed to the collapse of the supply chain, Tedros said in a press briefing in Switzerland's Geneva.

"While there is a wish amongst leaders to protect their own people first, the response to this pandemic has to be collective," he said.

Tedros said he has sent a letter to all WHO members, encouraging them to join the WHO's COVAX multilateral vaccine effort.