Vaccine woes

While likely vaccine candidates from multiple countries are progressing through either the second or the final test phase of immunity parameters and its safety on humans, the world will also need to come to a consensus on its equitable access to people of every country (“Collective efforts a must to develop vaccine,” Aug. 29, Gulf Today).

The COVAX initiative is an ambitious exercise and should have had most of the countries as partners. That 170 countries have expressed their desire to be a part of it is healthy, but the bigger question is why aren’t all on board.

I remember being taught right from school to graduation and beyond that ‘many hands make light work’ as one of the strongest formula for success. But that’s not true, I guess. May be its time educators stop promoting that principle.

If world leaders cannot come together on an issue of global dimension, such as this pandemic, what message are we sending out to the younger generation, which will replace our current rulers?

I wish the world would listen to the WHO official when she says that ‘WHO is not the police force. It is not the Security Council. It will be critical for the member states to stand behind strongly and manage the solidarity issues, especially for the countries that cannot afford it.’

We can’t be like school children who will behave only because the class ‘monitor’ will report us to the headmaster should be do otherwise. ‘We are all in it together’ is thrown at us by our politicians. Seriously, they need to get their act together first.

Shaina R
By email