Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on Report on State Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor
Human Rights Council – 50th Session
Thank you, Mr. President, Madam High Commissioner.
COVID-19 has demonstrated that none of us is safe until all of us are safe.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively affect all sectors of society worldwide, exacerbating existing inequalities for members of marginalized communities and undermining the enjoyment of human rights.
The United States continues to support countries in the global fight against COVID-19. We have delivered over half a billion safe and effective vaccine doses to more than 115 countries and economies, in partnership with COVAX, AVAT, and bilaterally.
We are also pursuing additional pathways to create equitable access for all countries for both COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
The U.S. believes strongly in intellectual property protections but the U.S. supports a waiver for IP protections for COVID-19 vaccines under the WTO TRIPS Agreement in service of ending this pandemic.
We remain concerned about low vaccination rates, primarily in LMICs. The COVID-19 Global Action Plan continues to galvanize countries to address this and other gaps in the response.
Question: How can we ensure that citizens of all countries receive accurate information on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines?
I thank you.
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