The United States could be the power to ensure that the creation and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine is democratic around the world. Unfortunately, this will not happen.
This statement was made in a commentary to Politico by the head of the global health program at the Center for Strategic and International Education Stephen Morrison.
“It could be assumed that, based on the past, the United States will become a galvanizing, leading element in promoting transparency. I doubt that this is possible under the current administration”, – he said.
The situation was commented on by the wife of Bill Gates Melind. As you know, they spent billions of dollars on health research.
“In the worst case, if these tools are available, they will receive the highest price – it will be terrible for the whole world”, – she laments, calling for global cooperation.
As noted in the publication, many health experts and world politicians today fear that the US President Donald Trump will turn the process of creating and distributing the vaccine into a global race, and countries will be forced to line up to buy medicine. Such a policy will turn the medicine into an instrument of political manipulation.
Last month, at the request of the World Health Organization, world leaders committed themselves to ensuring justice in the distribution of the drug. The United States did not participate in the consultations. Today, the European Union is discussing the financing of medical research, but the United States again refused to participate. The fear is growing that the Trump administration got into a conflict not only with China, but also with WHO.
Already in the world there is a race provoked by a pandemic of coronavirus infection. Entire states are fighting for medical masks and other personal protective equipment.
“According to officials and experts, similar competition for vaccine doses could lead to a crisis in the health sector, leading to a longer pandemic than it could otherwise be”, – the article says.