COVID, Diplomacy and Populism

The worldwide vaccination effort has deepened the fault lines between rich and poor countries. While more developed countries are welcoming a long-anticipated reopening, developing countries continue to live a hellish public health crisis. The global initiative, COVAX, spearheaded by the WHO, GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance), CEPI, and UNICEF, aims to provide participating countries with equal access to vaccines. But it’s not that simple. The global effort is riddled with obstacles from vaccine hesitancy, trade restrictions, lockdowns, political conflict, and lack of cooperation from richer countries. How can this international partnership succeed?

In a special edition of Altamar with Johns Hopkins University’s Hopkins at Home, hosts Peter Schechter and Muni Jensen are joined by Bill Moss, Executive Director of the International Vaccine Access Center, to delve into the international efforts of vaccine distribution amid a global pandemic. Altamar’s ‘Téa’s Take’ by Téa Ivanovic discusses the educational, social, and psychological adversity facing young people because of constant school closures all around the developing world.