World leaders urge free COVID-19 vaccine for all
People's Daily
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More than 140 world leaders, experts and elders make call for guarantees that COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, tests and treatments will be provided free of charge to everyone, everywhere. (Photo: UNAIDS website)

The letter was also signed by Senegalese President Macky Sall and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo. 
Former presidents and prime ministers among the signatories included Shaukat Aziz, Jan Peter Balkenende, Jose Manuel Barroso, Gordon Brown, Helen Clark, Felipe Gonzalez, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Aleksander Kwasniewski, Mary McAleese, Olusegun Obasanjo and Juan Manuel Santos. 
The letter ahead of the WHA said it was not the time to leave the task of resolving the pandemic to market forces or let the interests of wealthy companies and governments come before the need to save lives. 
African Union Chairperson Ramaphosa said: "As the countries of Africa, we are resolute that the COVID-19 vaccine must be patent-free, rapidly made and distributed, and free for all." 
"Nobody should be pushed to the back of the vaccine queue because of where they live or what they earn."