8 Feb 2021, 10:20
The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will discuss access to Covid-19 vaccine for low and middle-income countries with representatives from Access to Medicines Ireland and the World Health Organisation, at a meeting in Leinster House tomorrow, Tuesday, 9 February.
Dr Kieran Harkin and Dr Aisling McMahon of Access to Medicines Ireland (AMI) will be joined by Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and the WHO’s special envoy on Covid-19, Dr. David Nabarro will all appear, via video link, before the Committee in the Dáil Chamber from 10am.
Speaking before the meeting, Committee Chairman, Charlie Flanagan TD said: “Covid-19 vaccines have emerged as game-changers, offering hope of an end to the global coronavirus pandemic. Ireland’s national vaccine programme has already begun with hopes that all citizens will have the opportunity to vaccinated in the months ahead. But that is not the case for all nations.
“Tomorrow’s engagement with Dr Nabarro from the World Health Organisation and the representatives of Access to Medicines Ireland is an opportunity to hear about the global situation in terms of vaccine supply and work being done at present, including the WHO’s Covid-19 Technology Access Pool (C-Tap) to ensure people in all countries, irrespective of income get access to Covid-19 vaccines, as soon and as swiftly as possible.”
Access to Medicines Ireland (AMI) is committed to ensuring that medicines are made accessible at a fair price and that medical research and innovation is directed at areas of greatest global health need.
Watch the meeting live.
Committee membership
Deputies