FP Virtual Dialogue: How to End Vaccine Apartheid

Can the world be safe while vaccines are out of reach for so many?

Foreign Policy, in partnership with Brand South Africa, hosted an event exploring COVID-19 vaccine distribution, the latest developments in the COVAX initiative, the role of IP protections and public-private partnerships in meeting production goals, and more. 

With the world about to enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the gulf in vaccination rates between developed and developing nations remains severe. While wealthy nations are now offering booster shots for their own vaccinated populations, only 7% of citizens in lower-income countries have received one dose. With new variants of the coronavirus such as Omicron emerging, the discrepancy between wealthier nations and countries in the developing world are growing starker — and experts warn those discrepancies will create health risks that won’t be contained by borders. 

Despite commitments at the October 2021 G20 Summit to achieve a 70% vaccinated world by mid-2022, efforts to achieve that goal remain hobbled by vaccine nationalism, a lack of effective global cooperation, and stymied attempts to lower the cost of production and distribution. For all its idealism, the COVAX initiative has severely underperformed—and looks unlikely to be able to meet the world’s needs without structural change, broader support, and a widened vaccine supply base.

As the world looks to end the coronavirus pandemic, how can public and private sectors work together to ensure equitable access to vaccines across the globe? Our conversation looked at how global best practices can best be shared and implemented to help bridge the vaccine divide and avoid a “forever pandemic.”

Join the conversation with #BridgingtheVaxDivide.

In partnership with

Speakers

Dr. Naledi Pandor

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa
Naledi Pandor is South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. She became a Member of Parliament in 1994 and has amassed impressive experience in positio...
Minister Pandor AU
Minister Pandor AU

Thomas B. Cueni

Director General, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA)
Thomas Cueni is Director General of IFPMA, the global association of pharmaceutical research companies, based in Geneva and is Secretary of the global Biopharmaceutical CEO Roun...
Thomas_Cueni_AMR2021-1
Thomas_Cueni_AMR2021-1

Kate Elder

Senior Vaccines Policy Advisor, Doctors Without Borders Access Campaign
Kate Elder is the senior vaccines policy advisor for MSF’s Access Campaign, which pushes for access to, and the development of, life-saving and life-prolonging medicines, diag...
Screen Shot 2021-12-03 at 3.08.36 PM
Screen Shot 2021-12-03 at 3.08.36 PM

Fatima Hassan

Founder and Director, Health Justice Initiative
Fatima Hassan is a human rights lawyer and social justice activist and the founder of the HJI. She is </span...
Fatima - website (1)
Fatima - website (1)

Dr. Stavros Nicolaou

Trustee, Brand South Africa; Senior Executive, Strategic Trade Development, Aspen Pharmacare Group
Stavros Nicolaou is the Aspen Pharmacare Group’s Senior Executive responsible for Strategic Trade Development. He also serves on the board of trustees for Brand South Africa. ...
Stavros
Stavros

Sasha Polakow-Suransky

Deputy Editor , Foreign Policy
Sasha Polakow-Suransky is a deputy editor at Foreign Policy. He was a 2015-2016 Open Society Foundations fellow and previously worked as an op-ed editor at the Ne...
Screen Shot 2021-12-03 at 3.19.37 PM
Screen Shot 2021-12-03 at 3.19.37 PM

Sai D. Prasad

President, Developing Countries Vaccine Manufactures Network (DCVMN); President, Quality Operations, Bharat Biotech International Ltd.
Sai Prasad has progressive experience in management, from basic science research, good manufacturing practice, good laboratory practice, technical operations, to quality managem...
Sai D
Sai D