EU Urged to Ensure Vaccine Access for Developing Nations

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has called on the European Union (EU) to stop obstructing vaccine access for developing countries, particularly in the Global South. During a discussion in Abuja, AHF Country Director Echei Ijezi stressed the importance of equitable and just access to vaccines.

He pointed out that the pandemic agreement set to be adopted in May 2025 cannot be ratified until the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PAB) annex is finalized, which establishes rules for sharing pathogen samples and genetic data. Ijezi criticized the EU's resistance to binding equitable provisions, warning that failure to reach an agreement by the end of March 2026 could weaken the pandemic response.

Martin Egbanubi, Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Workers, noted that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for countries to prepare better and emphasized the importance of local vaccine production in Nigeria. He called for support from developed nations for fair partnerships and knowledge sharing.