Time to Clamp Down on Dangers of Vaccine Nationalism

12 Feb 2021 02:09 PM

EXPERT COMMENT

Scientific breakthroughs are not enough, pharmaceutical companies and political leaders must ensure vital commodities reach everyone. But they are failing.

As spring approaches in the northern hemisphere, there is growing anticipation 2021 will be the year the world conquers the coronavirus pandemic.

This optimism stems from the extraordinary collaborative efforts of scientists in discovering and testing six, safe and effective vaccines within a year of the first outbreak. But sadly, politics will be the biggest factor in determining whether and how vaccines are distributed around the world.

With new concerning variants of the coronavirus being reported on almost a weekly basis, the urgency to vaccinate as many of the world’s population is obvious and as pragmatic as it is altruistic.

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