Vaccine diplomacy at a time of extreme rivalries

How have vaccine nationalism and vaccine diplomacy become key components of geopolitics?

Members event, Panel Recording
30 June 2021 — 12:00PM TO 1:00PM
Online

Vaccine diplomacy at a time of extreme rivalries - highlights

— How have vaccine nationalism and vaccine diplomacy become key components of geopolitics?

While the global coronavirus pandemic is killing millions, decimating economies and rapidly increasing poverty, relations between major powers are deteriorating.

Despite global rhetoric for international cooperation, many countries saw the pandemic as an opportunity for nationalist point-scoring and repatriated their assets.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), has likened the situation to ‘vaccine apartheid’ while experts have warned that COVID-19 is only a test for what is to come: further global health crises and the impending climate emergency.

In conversation with a number of experts, author and consulting fellow John Kampfner explores the geo-strategic rivalries between states and the potential winners and losers.

  • How can the United States and China, for example, put their differences aside and focus on the global supply of vaccines?

  • How will China and Russia capitalize on the deals they have brokered with states in the Global South in need of vaccines?

  • And is Covax the ‘only truly global solution’ to equitably distribute vaccines around the world?

This event supports our new feature ‘Vaccine competition may now be the world’s best bet’.

As with all member events, questions from the audience drive the conversation.

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