Vaccinations are a large contributor to the standard of global health. The eradication of smallpox and rinderpest is attributed to the scientific development of vaccines.
It is imperative that all people in all countries around the world are vaccinated for COVID-19 at the same rate. Because no one is safe until all are safe. Still, countries in the Global South, who not only have to pay far more for the vaccines than the UK, will have to wait until 2023 to achieve widespread vaccination because pharmaceutical monopolies are creating artificial restrictions.
Our Green MP Caroline Lucas recently asked the Secretary of State the following:
‘Given that no one is safe until everyone is safe, will the Secretary of State use his influence with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the Government changes its position and backs proposals from India & South Africa to address pharmaceutical monopolies and help ensure that the world can produce enough vaccines for every country as soon as possible?’
See her question and his reply below.
We recently hosted an event on Vaccine Solidarity. Did you miss it? You can catch the replay here.
