Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Samantha Cross
World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Federal Republic of Germany
Samantha Cross
Forest Hills Eastern
For centuries, people around the world have looked for a cure for deadly diseases and illnesses. As of 2021, 40 out of 100 deaths in children under 5 years old were caused by infectious diseases, many of which could have been prevented by vaccines. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 14.3 million children under 1 years of age did not receive any basic vaccines, which increases the risk of infection and possible death. The United Nations works with vaccines primarily through the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who coordinate vaccine development and distribution, promote access and provide information about vaccinations, advocates for funding for vaccine programs, ad. The UN also advocates for funding for vaccine programs and running campaigns to educate and save lives.
Germany recognises the importance of vaccine access and distribution for all of its citizens. Germany’s Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) makes vaccination recommendations and recommends specific measures for children, adolescents, and adults. Vaccines that are recommended by STIKO are also generally free for all children and for people with statutory public health insurance, which covers the majority of the population. Germany has also passed the Infection Protection Act, which dictates how vaccines are approved, recommended, financed, and delivered to citizens. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health sets the public health policy and ensures that it is aligned with the European Union’s regulations while Germany’s federal states implement vaccination programs and campaigns, especially in schools. Germany also gives citizens the Impfpass, which is a small document that records vaccination history. Internationally, Germany has helped lead the way in vaccine access and distribution. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany donated and supplied around 119 million doses of vaccines to 46 countries, primarily in Africa and Asia. Due to a lack of vaccine production in Africa, Germany has donated more than 550 million euros and loans to help the African Union develop their own vaccine production.
The Federal Republic of Germany urges the UN to pass more measures in regards to vaccine access and distribution. Germany believes that to reduce this problem, the UN should focus on education of vaccines and clearing up misinformation and hesitancy about immunization, as well as reducing financial costs that accompany vaccines, which can be achieved by donating to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. We would also like to implement the use of different vaccination sites, such as vaccination centers, mobile vaccination teams, and even school based vaccination programs internationally. It is important to enact these measures as soon as possible so that more people can have access to vaccines, and more lives can be saved.
