Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Matthew Gascon
The Russian Federation affirms that equitable global vaccine access is fundamental to global health security. This issue is rightfully a top priority for the World Health Organization. This was made especially clear by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed structural weaknesses in international vaccine distribution, especially in less developed countries. Although the WHO and many countries have undertaken initiatives to improve these problems, including the Immunization Agenda 2030, global disparities persist. Therefore, Russia supports the strengthening of existing distribution mechanisms while ensuring that respect for national sovereignty, scientific rigor, and depoliticized cooperation between countries remain the cornerstones of the WHO’s work.
The Russian Federation has always invested in vaccine development and access. The Sputnik V vaccine, developed by the top Russian researchers, is a testament to these efforts. The Sputnik V vaccine was registered in August 2020, and it was one of the first vaccines to be deployed in multiple countries against COVID-19. The Russian Federation helped distribute the vaccine quickly, starting in December 2020, to Argentina, Belarus, the Philippines, and many other countries to provide a quick response to the growing pandemic. These efforts demonstrate the Russian Federation’s willingness to support any nations in need and the commitment to diversification of the world’s vaccine supply rather than excessive dependence on a limited number of suppliers.
The Russian Federation continues to advocate for expanding regional vaccine manufacturing hubs and developing standardized technology transfer frameworks—especially for developing countries–to ensure that public health needs cannot be compromised by political pressure or economic barriers. Developing countries increasing their public health infrastructure is essential not just for routine immunization but also for quick, effective responses in future health emergencies.
In addition, the Russian Federation urges the WHO to promote the development of national public health systems and equitable access to all essential vaccines. The Russian Federation also supports cooperative monitoring, where countries collect data within their own borders while relying on the WHO’s expertise for guidelines and technical assistance. Each nation would collect data about themselves, and they would receive help from the WHO without interference from other countries. This balances the need for scientific reliability and effective data collection with respect for all countries’ national sovereignty.
The Russian Federation also calls for depoliticized global health cooperation. The WHO must encourage the removal of obstacles such as unilateral sanctions that impede access to essential medical technologies. These obstacles get in the way of the WHO’s mission and the goals all nations are trying to achieve. The world must not allow petty politicking to get in the way of saving lives. In this spirit, strengthening international trust and removing barriers to collaboration will help ensure a more resilient global health system.
The Russian Federation is ready to work with all countries to advance a fair, inclusive, and effective global vaccine strategy that will strengthen global health security and prepare the world for any future global health challenges.
