The catastrophic scale of the Covid-19 pandemic could have been prevented, an independent global panel concluded on Wednesday, but a “toxic cocktail” of dithering andpoor coordination meant the warning signs went unheeded. To tackle the current pandemic, it called on the richest countries to donate a billion vaccine doses to the poorest. The report was requested by World Health Organization (WHO) member states last May. The report, “Covid-19: Make it the Last Pandemic,” argued that the global alarm system needed overhauling to prevent a similar catastrophe. To tackle future outbreaks and pandemics, the panel called for a Global Health Threats Council made up of world leaders, plus a pandemic convention.

Source: Manila Times May 12, 2021 16:52 UTC