G20 health ministers meeting wraps up in Rome amid controversy over COVID-19 green pass
Max Civili
Press TV, Rome
A two-day meeting of G20 health ministers has wrapped up in the Italian capital, with a pledge to make sure that the world's population has access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Ensuring sustainable development in a post-pandemic world and preventing future pandemics were among the issues discussed by the group.
At the end of the meeting Roberto Speranza, the health minister of Italy -- which holds the G20 presidency this year -- announced the unanimous adoption of the 'Pact of Rome.'
Now that public health and social measures are being relaxed in many countries, vaccination rates have slumped in some parts of the world, and authorities are worried.
The G20 talks have taken place against the backdrop of a heated debate over the so-called Green Pass, a mandatory proof of COVID vaccination, already enforced in certain countries.
The issues has triggered protests in several countries, including France and Italy.
In France, around 140,000 people rallied in various cities against the health certification over the weekend.
The Italian government is considering extending its green pass to all employees in the public sector- but part of the ruling coalition is against it. The pass is already mandatory for school staff and passengers on long-distance public transport.
This has prompted a swath of protests across Italy over the past months.
About 37.5 million Italians, out of a population of less than 60 million, have been fully vaccinated so far.
Italian authorities aim at vaccinating 80% of the population by the end of September, a target that seems unlikely to be met.
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