A BROMSGROVE teenager headed to Parliament to urge the government to tackle unequal vaccine access in low-income countries.

Along with other activists Devaanshi Aggarwal, aged 17 met with 31 MPs on February 23 to talk about why ending the pandemic globally should be a priority for the UK.

This year Devaanshi has been campaigning for vaccine equality with the support of global movement, ONE Campaign which fights extreme poverty.

Devaanshi said: “The UK must play its part in global efforts to end the pandemic. Financing the global pandemic fight is key in achieving that. As a student, I believe that the UK must commit to its fair share to the cost of buying and distributing vaccines.”

She provided MPs with a personalised booklet, which included messages addressed to him/her from constituents, expressing concern over the slow pace of the UK in delivering vaccines to developing countries.

In response to Devaanshi, MP for Gedling in the East Midlands, Tom Randell said: “I’m proud that the UK has been at the forefront of the international response to vaccinating the world against COVID.

“There’s much more to do and am grateful to have had the opportunity to speak to representatives of the ONE Campaign to discuss the challenges that we still face.”

Recent polling commissioned by ONE showed that 63 per cent of Brits would support the UK to share vaccines with developing countries rather than deliver more boosters at home, to prevent the spread of new variants.

Romilly Greenhill, UK Director of The ONE Campaign, said: “Ensuring low-income countries vaccinate their population will prevent new variants from emerging.

“This, therefore, protects public health, the NHS, our economy, and children’s education here in the UK for the long term. Vaccinating the world is in our national interest, too.”