130 countries have not received a single Covid vaccine dose. Speaking to the UN Security Council on Wednesday 17 February, UN Secretary General António Guterres called it “wildly uneven and unfair” that 10 countries have administered 75% of all vaccinations. He demanded a global effort to get the world’s population vaccinated together.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the rich world to send up to 5% of their coronavirus vaccine doses to developing countries, saying: “We’re not talking about billions of doses immediately, or billions and billions of euros. It’s about much more rapidly allocating 4-5% of the doses we have… It won’t change our vaccination campaigns, but each country should set aside a small number of the doses it has to transfer tens of millions of them, but very fast, so that people on the ground see it happening.”
Supporters of such a move argue the developed world has a moral obligation to act. However, some also argue Europe should avoid “vaccine nationalism” for reasons of self-interest; if the virus runs rampant in large parts of the world then it could lead to mutations and variants which might make vaccines less effective. Furthermore, Europe depends on global supply chains which face severe disruption if developing countries cannot access the vaccine, costing the rich world trillions of dollars.
Should the EU send 5% of its vaccine doses to poorer nations? Is it wildly unfair that 10 nations have administered 75% of all vaccines? Does vaccine nationalism make us all less safe? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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Richer countries? Look at Serbia it has 1.3 million vaccinations on a population of less than 7 million people. And it has procured enough vaccines to cover it’s entire population. Also, with a gdp of $130 bn, it’s far from being a rich country by any standard. Conclusion: Some things are a matter of organization, money isn’t everything.
Arijan Luka Serbia is not even poor! It is a European country, part of the most selected club on the planet….
Constantinescu Florin it is in continental Europe, but not a part of the E.U. it’s GDP is ranked lower than half of African nations. It’s GDP per capita is $8.500 per year, that’s about 19% of the the E.U. average, which is $44.000.
Arijan Luka At what cost though? They’ve taken a gamble on the Russian and Chinese vaccines actually being effective. Hopefully it pays off.
John MT indeed, it was a gamble. No great side effects so far, time will tell how effective and efficient those vaccines actually are.
It is not a matter of organization at all. It is because Serbia has put life of people before politics. Serbia has asked and China agreed. A deal is made. At the outbreak of the pandemic, Italy had asked, China had also come for aid. Why Italy does not ask now? It is because its own people had openly demonstrated against the government decision. So, who is to blame for insufficient vaccine in the EU?
It is just Serbia is not a rich country, it cannot compete with rich countries in buying Western vaccine. Serbia has wisely turned to China and Serbia has got its urgently needed vaccine. If EU has turned to ask for the purchase of Chinese vaccine, China should have already its vaccine sent to EU, in view of the efficiency of the Chinese and its huge transportation network. What has been preventing EU from acquiring sufficient vaccine is based on political grounds. This is time EU leaders have to consider whether human lives matter! If EU cannot even have enough vaccine for its own people, sending 5% of its vaccine to poorer nations is just a political gesture which would please no one.
Have the poorer nations actually asked them to do this, or is it another act of unilateral “generosity”?
EU should follow the Swiss example!EU should demand Phase 3 clinically tested vaccine, which take 9 months, and test the “long term side effects”. So far not a single vaccine has passed Phase 3! “Western vaccine” producers have come up in the media telling they passed “phase 3” and the results are over 90% efficiency. However how effective is a vaccine is determined in “Phase 2”! So… what happens now must be a criminal offense! And EU politicians and media are colluding with big-pharma. If anyone wants to be part of a clinical trial, they should be able to make informed decision.https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1392962/eu-vaccine-latest-astrazeneca-switzerland-ban-oxford-vaccine-uk-latest
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George Thomson the one who is missinformed is yourself, here is a list of vaccines that successfully passed stage 3 trial:https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/vaccines/The trials are over and the vaccines have been demed safe for human use by health authorities. E.U. politicians colluding with Big Pharma is an unfounded conspiracy theory. FYI Pfizer stock has dropped by 11.40% in the past 6 months, so all your arguments for Big Pharma making a huge profit over the pandemic are untrue, don’t take my word for it, you can check this publicly avaliable information.
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George Thomson I thought phase 3 was supposed to be finished in 2023 at the very earliest? From what I understand (this may be wrong as there is a lot of conflicting information – not least from the manufacturers and institutions themselves), they only got through phase 1 of testing, and even that was cut off before the normal date. Not to mention that they rarely give a clear definition of what “effective” really means, whereas even the leadership of the WHO has said they probably don’t stop transmission. Nice to know about Switzerland, I missed that story.
Arijan Luka Please stop misleading people, intentionally or not! What you are doing should be a criminal offense!Even on your page it does NOT state that any vaccines have passed Phase 3, only that are in Clinical Trials, or approved by at least 1 country, which does NOT make them passed “Phase 3”!For example Pfizer – BioNTech SE, Phase 3 Estimated Study Completion Date : January 31, 2023https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04368728
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Michał Szostało you are partially correct!2023 is Phase 3 for iPfizer – BioNTech SEEstimated Study Completion Date : January 31, 2023https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04368728The Russian vaccine’s Phase 3 clinical trial is 9 months, and will be completed in May 2021.https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04530396?term=Gam-COVID-Vac&draw=2
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George Thomson a criminal offense should be your sick opinion to stop people in the middle of a pandemic to receive safe vaccines that passed all necessary clinical trials. If you are incapable to interpret information, that’s your bussines, but intentionally propagating anti vaccine views in the middle of a pandemic should be a criminal offense.
Arijan Luka it’s not a “sick opinion”, it’s a matter of fact! I have given you links to the official clinical trials, which prove it.But it’s not like it has not happened before:https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pfizer-settlement/pfizer-to-pay-2-3-billion-agrees-to-criminal-plea-idUSTRE5813XB20090902
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George Thomson if you want to wait for another few years or not take the vaccine, it’s your choice not to. But propagating dangerous missleding opinions in the middle of a deadly virus pandemic in which, in case you didn’t notice millions of peole died, should be a criminal offense.
Arijan Luka you can take the russian vaccine after May 2021, when their Phase 3 will be completed.Otherwise everyone who wants to participate in a clinical trial and vaccinate before that, should be able to do so, but also they need to know that those vaccines have NOT passed phase 3 trials.Why do you insist that people should be deceived to use those vaccines, and be lied to that they have passed phase 3, when they clearly have not? Why do YOU insist on lying?
George Thomson 1. No one is forced to do anything, getting the vaccine is a choice. 2. Companies where pressured by the PANDEMIC to accelarate the clinixal trials, the reason Pfizer didn’t close the stage 3 trial yet(meant to measure vaccine efficacy and potential side effects on the long run) is because they are still monitoring the patience for side effects.3. No one’s lying, all the data we have so far indicates the vaccines are perfectly safe for human use, ask hundeds of millions of people world wide who actually got the vaccine.Once again, I’m glad you find my comments amusing, but the pandemic is no laughing matter. Hopefully opinions like yours won’t prolong this pandemic for much longer, and millions of lives will be saved by the very same vaccines you frown upon.
Arijan Luka 1. you lied 2. you misrepresented3. you deceived So why do you need to do it? This should be a criminal offense. If China or Russia did it, you/EU would be crying “human rights violations”, “human experimentation”, or even “genocide”. So why it’s OK for YOU to do it?
Arijan Luka 1. you lied 2. you misrepresented3. you deceived So why do you need to do it? This should be a criminal offense. If China or Russia did it, you/EU would be crying “human rights violations”, “human experimentation”, or even “genocide”. So why it’s OK for YOU to do it?
No
No
No. The EU funded it. The EU paid for it. Now we have the privilige to get it first. After Europe is vaccinated we can donate the rest to poorer countries.
Should the EU send 5% of its vaccine doses to poorer nations?
Only after every single man, woman and child in Europe is fully covered both in first second and third level doses.
And, as there are millions, literally, of poor countries citizens living within the European borders and non stop daily entering, with millions of their subsequent offspring, I feel they are being well looked after by European tax payers, footing their bills. As a sidebar, when do poorer nations begin to raise some money from their own hard work in order to take care of their own necessary medical bills? Especially in view of how they now have an enormous amount of the production and manufacturing taken from previous Europeans, leaving many without work necessary to pay our big much needed taxes? Do they ever become financially viable? Ready to pay for themselves at home, akin to the way this part of the world does? And, if not, why not?
I think EU/Macron ought to discuss with the WHO. 5% of its vaccine from EU cannot solve a pandemic in a global-size and revitalize the global economy. We are in a global era, it needs global coordination and cooperation.
@ Jthk
No… What the world organisations must do is make drastic changes of pace in pursuit of Globalism. The leaders of deeply charitable Western cultures have paid out of European taxes for all this Globalism expectation for eternity and, as a result, are unable to function as defenders and providers for Western economic standards. They have pilfered and wasted our profits for decades. Globalism is unfit for purpose and not enough taxes are taken ‘world wide’ to cover the gross negligence shown toward those who are left behind with the expense of it. We are blowing in the wind with a shortfall from over benevolence for way too long. These people who rule in a Global world have decided the fate of its providers must be ignored in favour of those who turn a blind eye to European suffering.
The UN must get its pile of nonsense in shape and begin to take on board the ‘Human Rights’ of those they have used to the point of abuse. At last, now free of EU control, the UK law courts have begun to put the British public first. From this morning, when making their ruling on who can come to settle at our expense here, after taking threatening action against us, can no longer be tolerated. Now, it is ruled, we have to put our tax payers ‘first’ when deciding on who deserves our general good will and ‘health benefits’ paid for by our hard working people. Certainly not those who do us harm.
Let the poorer countries, as they are called, pay their own taxes to look after the health care of their people. They are earning from the production and manufacturing jobs removed from our people to theirs, yet want us to continue to foot their bills. Well it doesn’t work that way. You work, you earn, you pay your taxes and look after yourself. And it starts with cleaning up your environment… Poorer nations are not children who have a right to expect Western adults to parent them. No respect in that. They must take on a mindset of responsibility for their own disasters. Not bring it into our sphere to dump it on us. Who benefits from that?
The Big money players that’s who benefits. Hence the disastrous poverty we see Europeans being locked into via food banks and homelessness, whilst these, so called leaders continue, ad infinitum, to import more mouths for us to feed and keep healthy. Shut the borders tight is the answer. And recreate a first world economy of the past before we end up with the same hellish environment we see in places they ask us to endlessly support with our money.
Now there is a woke idea if ever there was one.
It is just Serbia is not a rich country, it cannot compete with rich countries in buying Western vaccine. Serbia has wisely turned to China and Serbia has got its urgently needed vaccine. If EU has turned to ask for the purchase of Chinese vaccine, China should have already its vaccine sent to EU, in view of the efficiency of the Chinese and its huge transportation network. What has been preventing EU from acquiring sufficient vaccine is based on political grounds. This is time EU leaders have to consider whether human lives matter! If EU cannot even have enough vaccine for its own people, sending 5% of its vaccine to poorer nations is just a political gesture which would please no one.
Why? UN/EU please give us your reasons first.
The UN SG António Guterres has the unenviable task to act as political crisis manager (his own personal choice) for all- by displaying questionable fatherhood for his 193 children- until….
“Come What (ever) May” Let THEM spell & sing it out in imperfect Queens English.
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/stonesour/comewhatevermay.html
Yes, some of us together with WHO have been asking for “VACCINE EQUITY” since the beginning from RICH country. There has been a discussion among leaders about “VACCINE HOARDING” threatening global supply, WHO Director General spoke on these issue.
So what now Selby?
Yes, it is correct that the WHO’s started a campaign for #VaccinEquity.
https://www.who.int/campaigns/annual-theme/year-of-health-and-care-workers-2021/vaccine-equity-declaration
It is reported that Ghana has received 600,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. To be followed by 11 million more COVAX doses in the next 7 days. SA rejected its 1st batch of 80k doses from India’s AstraZeneca and opted for the Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine instead- for purely medical reasons.
“Global vaccine distribution scheme COVAX plans to start sending millions of AstraZeneca doses to African countries this month.”
A Reuters report elaborates on SA’s roll out & possible funding by the “Russia Direct Investment Fund. Why? Is SA bankrupted? Its GDP/debt ratio is gone up to +80% from ~50% in one year!
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-africa-idUSKBN2A90W1
Below is a link to the SA’s official Corona Government-19 website:
https://sacoronavirus.co.za
Why are the rich counties- “by some of you”- accused or feared of “VACCINE HOARDING” while the facts on the ground seem different? Everyone struggles!
Why not condemn the immense corruption & theft of multi-millions of SA taxpayer’s money which were squandered due to fraudulent PPE-tenders given to ANC sympathizers, front companies & ANC cadre deployees?
https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/siu-report-lifts-lid-on-ppe-tender-scandal-millions-stolen-by-government-officials-45be7597-8a7d-4b9b-b12f-af6626feef40
Any highly corrupt African country & its leaders (like SA) deserve no financial assistance nor political leniency whatsoever.
Sorry, but the name “Zuma” has tarnished SA’s reputation internationally & brought this country to the brink of a failed state due to corruption, mismanagement & looting! The evidence is huge, despite constant denials.
https://mg.co.za/article/2013-04-26-00-zuma-family-rumour-stokes-petrosa-fire/
https://www.irex.org/people/selby-sibukeli-zuma
https://ewn.co.za/topic/selby-zuma
Please understand, this world is a small place and Europe’s taxpayers are not a money printing entity to support dishonesty, tribalism, fake democracies, state capture & the subversion of its independent Judiciary- although SA having one of the best & most modern Constitutions.
Siyabonga
@ Selby Zuma
Vaccine Equity meaning what exactly? Why are you expecting those countries with the vaccine have a duty to you and yours above their own tax paying citizens? To take from their own people and give others outside their borders to dwellers of other lands? What do you and your people offer in return? Is it the ability to exploit your land, minerals and workforce? If that is what you are suggesting, why are your leaders not investing the money they put into their personal Swiss bank accounts to do what you think we should? Your leaders make enough money to support yourselves and compete on the world stage with the rest of us.? You have the good fortune of being blessed with all you survey and yet, even though you know how to do it, you don’t. Then want us to give you more of our hard earned tax payer money for you to stash away and remain in need to keep the gifts coming.
This should have stopped a very long time ago.
Work to save your country and its people the way you should have always. Then you won’t need to beg others for their charitable status to extend to you.
Somehow, I don’t see the countries citizens you ask to fund your lifestyle would be given charity from your leaders, should the shoe was on the other foot. Do you?
@ Catherine Benning to reply your 26 Feb comment:
First of all, globalism is not created or led by the UN, it is a consequence of human technological development and human urge to explore the world and has been pushing forwarded by multinational capitalist dynamism. Charitable Western cultures are not created by leaders but answering to people who have elected them. Besides, what decision the UN has made is a collective decision by member states. Although there are more poorer states and the richer states appear to be spending huge resources on others. We have to think of whether EU is able to sustain itself an economic circle. If all countries have been developing at the same rate and same wealth and technological level, all countries should be self-sufficient. Would therefore be any dynamic for trade and competition. As we have seen, China has been producing cheap products so that poor countries can afford to buy and China accumulate wealth to upgrade its own production. Chinese cannot depend on manufacturing million tons of T-shirt to buy one Beoing plane or AirBus. What I have seen is that China has cleverly embraced globalism and seeing the whole world as a system. China has found its position to earn money. EU has wrongly submit itself for US leadership. As the US has seen the world with very old realpolitik, and see all countries are behaving like wild animals in a jungle. So the powerful one can rule everyone and weaker ones should be prey of the powerful. These are just behavior of breast not civilized human.
European do not necessarily need to suffer. It is because the political correctness of European leaders and people, who have opted to choose freedom and democracy and give up lives. It is not the poor countries that have bought all vaccines, it is the rich countries of the West. Even though the Western manufacturing of vaccine cannot meet its demand, EU leaders have refused to buy Chinese vaccine. What has been endangering European lives and harming European health benefits are not the poor countries but the poison of freedom and democracy which have been hindering the rational decision of your political leaders.It is not the poorer countries that have removed production and manufacturing jobs from Europe, if you have gone back carefully to history, it was the postwar welfare states Europe and the US have been overloaded governments. As represented by neo-conservatism or neo-liberalism advocated by both Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, governments and entrepreneurs want to free themselves from demands and control of powerful unions, they had chosen to transfer the manufacturing industries to less developed countries where the material, labour and all manufacturing cost are very much lower and enterprises can make higher profit. It is a capitalism profit-making initiative that have killed your jobs not the poor countries. The poor countries have been paying a human and environmental cost in exchange of low pay salaries. Would Europeans like to take back their job from poor countries with very low pay equivalent to level of these poor people? If not, please find a way to make yourself worth the higher level of pay or accept a low level pay. Apparently, it is the former which is more practical.