WHO-Euro Regional Director congratulates Spain on its management of the pandemic and the success of vaccinations

At the meeting, Dr Kluge highlighted the success of COVID-19 vaccination in Spain, where 90 per cent of the target population (over 12 years of age) is about to be fully vaccinated, a figure well above the European average. Kluge congratulated Minister Darias and "also President Sánchez for his leadership in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic" because in "Spain people have confidence in the vaccine, in the primary care system and in its strength, which is very important".

The WHO representative remarked that "Spain, despite having a very high level of vaccination, continues to put pressure on the virus and does not give up despite the figures". That is why he insisted that Spain is an example for everyone and that is why the WHO has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Health to document good practices in Spain to serve as an example both for the rest of Europe and the rest of the world".

For her part, Minister Carolina Darias highlighted the solidarity vaccination since, through the COVAX Mechanism and other bilateral mechanisms, more than 20 million doses of vaccines have already been donated to countries without access to them, as part of the commitment of the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, to reach 50 donated doses before the first quarter of 2022.

The meeting between the two leaders agreed to collaborate on reducing HIV stigma and discrimination, working together on the Spanish Presidency of the European Union in 2023 and collaborating with experts in primary care, not only for the European region, but also for Pan-America, an inter-regional collaboration that is very important.

Furthermore, Kluge congratulated the Government of Spain for "financial protection because Spain is a country that has left no one behind" and recalled that recently "even assisted human reproduction has been included for single women, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people with gestational capacity. This is very important. Thank you for being an example on gender issues, it is very important for WHO to move forwards without leaving anyone behind, especially people who cannot afford to pay for the health system.

Among the issues the two representatives shared was the common approach to policies related to the promotion of primary care and HIV. Both issues are part of two strategic collaboration lines between Spain and WHO-Euro in the coming years.

Non official translation