The Philippines has called on the world’s nations to vaccinate women and migrant workers against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), citing their crucial role in overcoming the pandemic.

Speaking at an online global conference on vaccine access, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. cautioned that the world's pandemic recovery might be derailed if these vulnerable sectors are not covered by the vaccination programs.

"The Philippines calls on Member States to include women and migrant workers, especially those working in the frontlines of the pandemic response, and to include them in the national immunization strategies of all governments," Galvez said during the special ministerial meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on "A Vaccine for All" Friday.

"Women and migrants are disproportionately exposed to the health risks posed by the pandemic, yet they play critical roles in weathering the crisis," he added

He noted that United Nations member states have already reached a consensus to ensure the coronavirus vaccines will be accessible and affordable for all. But the Philippines expressed concern about the reported unequal access to the vaccines as the world's cases of infections continued to rise.

"If we renege on our commitments, and if we do not include our most vulnerable sectors in our responses, we also risk failing an inclusive post-pandemic recovery that leaves no one behind,” said Galvez, chief implementer of the government’s program to address the pandemic.

As the world faced a shortage in vaccine supply, Galvez has appealed to the international community to support the World Health Organization's global initiative on ensuring fair vaccine access especially for poor nations. Manila has already pledged $100,000 to the COVAX facility.

"We also need to address the extremely urgent needs of low- and middle-income countries, and bolster support and funding to multilateral initiatives, notably the COVAX Facility, such that it could continue delivering on its targets of 2 billion vaccine doses to all countries by the end of 2021," Galvez said.

He also echoed President Duterte's appeal against unequal distribution of the life-saving vaccines.

"At the historic occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte cautioned, that if any country is excluded by reason of poverty or strategic unimportance, this gross injustice will haunt the world for a long time and will completely discredit the values upon which the United Nations was founded," he said.

"May no further injustice haunt us, as we continue the global fight towards ending this pandemic," he added.

The World Health Organization earlier expressed concern over the “worrying” increase in the world’s cases and deaths, that pushed the world’s infections to the highest level in the pandemic.

As of Friday, around 138.5 million cases of infections have been reported worldwide with 2.9 million deaths. In the Philippines, health authorities reported 10,726 new cases of infections, pushing the total number to 914,971. The country’s death toll has reached 15,738.

President Duterte admitted that more people will die from coronavirus disease amid the world’s limited vaccine supply.