Vaccine Diplomacy, Vaccine Nationalism And Bangladesh

COVID vaccine is now the focus of news around the world. Because the most effective way to prevent coronavirus is a safe and effective vaccine.

According to experts at the European research institute Rand, if the vaccine is not available, the impact of covid-19 on the GDP of the world economy in the next one year will be 3.4 trillion dollars. And if the vaccine is available, the amount will be one point two trillion 8. But at the end of the year, there is a new type of Covid-19, and on the other hand, there is vaccine diplomacy around the world to ensure that all people get the vaccine. Historically, "vaccine diplomacy" has been a proven force, but it has often been defeated by "vaccine nationalism." As a result, distrust has increased in the north and south.

For those who have been watching the news about covid for the last few days, two words have become quite familiar. One is vaccine diplomacy, the other is vaccine nationalism The history of vaccine diplomacy is very old Vaccine diplomacy is literally the use of vaccines to developing diplomatic relations between one state and another. For example, we can highlight the recent special interest of China and India in Bangladesh with the covid vaccine. Vaccine diplomacy in the broadest sense means not only financing, but also the exchange of knowledge and experience to ensure strategic communication for the discovery, sale, and supply of vaccines. One branch of world health diplomacy is vaccine diplomacy, which has led to a rift between Russia and the United States in the "quarrelsome relationship."

According to experts at the European research institute Rand, if the vaccine is not available, the impact of Kovid-19 on the GDP of the world economy in the next one year will be 3.4 trillion dollars. And if the vaccine is available, the amount will be one point two trillion 8 But at the end of the year, there is a new type of Covid-19, and on the other hand, there is a vaccine diplomacy around the world to ensure that all people get the vaccine. Historically, "vaccine diplomacy" has been a proven force, but it has often been defeated by "vaccine nationalism." As a result, distrust has increased in the north and south

For those who have been watching the news about Kovid for the last few days, two words have become quite familiar. One is vaccine diplomacy, the other is vaccine nationalism The history of vaccine diplomacy is very old Vaccine diplomacy is literally the use of vaccines to developing diplomatic relations between one state and another. For example, we can highlight the recent special interest of China and India in Bangladesh with the covid vaccine. Vaccine diplomacy in the broadest sense means not only financing, but also the exchange of knowledge and experience to ensure strategic communication for the discovery, sale, and supply of vaccines. One branch of world health diplomacy is vaccine diplomacy, which has led to a rift between Russia and the United States in the "da-pumpkin relationship."

Peter J. Hotz, a well-known researcher on vaccine diplomacy In a 2014 article in the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Journal, he noted that between 1700 and 1805, Russia, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Canada, and the United States were the first to successfully vaccinate smallpox vaccines. The discovery of the polio vaccine by British physician Edward Jenner came to a halt in the early 18th century between Britain and France. "Science is never for war," Edward said in a letter to the enemy's National Institute. In 2013, the United States and Iran issued a joint statement calling for the development of vaccines against certain diseases. And with the recent onset of competition for the vaccine, there has been an increase in vaccine diplomacy. "Vaccines are an important and effective tool in foreign policy," Hotz said, citing China's recent Health Silk Road policy. Experts say China is using the covid vaccine as a strategy to restore its image and expand its sphere of influence. Many countries are now leaning towards China, thinking that the vaccine of the rich is an illusory dream

According to the latest (January 5, 2021) data from the Covid-19 vaccine tracker, 7 vaccines have so far been recognized in one country or another. Of these, the Biotech / Pfizer vaccine is recognized in most of the 48 countries. In addition, 2 Moderna, 5 Sputnik-V4, 5 Oxford / Estragenka, 5 Synopharm from China, 1 Covishield from Serum Institute of India and 1 Covaxin from Biotech have been recognized. Of these, trials of the Oxford vaccine have taken place in a maximum of 12 countries So far, 73 vaccines are in various stages of clinical trials, which gives us a glimmer of hope. Of these, 18 vaccines are in the 3rd stage, 32 vaccines are in the 2nd stage and 23 more vaccines are in the 1st stage trial. Only 43 countries in the world have started the application of the covid vaccine

The behind-the-scenes game is also going on The game is who will get or buy this vaccine first As a result, we are introduced to a negative phrase called vaccine nationalism UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that the prevalence of vaccine nationalism is on the rise This nationalism sees world health as just a business Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated when a country's government guarantees a vaccine for its own country without giving another country a chance. The worst part of this is that the richest countries in the world only care about the lives of their own people, they don't have the attitude to help other countries or to fight against extremism together. As a result, the world is witnessing a new kind of inequality between rich and poor countries In the meantime, rich countries have already received billions of doses of pre-orders before the vaccine hit the market, sparked by outgoing US President Trump's "My Nations First" idea. According to Oxfam, the United States, the United Kingdom, several European Union countries, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, and Switzerland have agreed in advance to buy more than half a dose of the corona vaccine. However, in terms of population, only 14 percent of the world's people live in these countries According to Global News, the UK alone has agreed to buy 30 million doses of the Oxford vaccine. Four more European countries have signed agreements to buy 400 million doses The United States has agreed to buy 300 million doses from Oxford and 100 million doses from Pfizer. The People's Vaccine Alliance says rich countries buy 53 percent of their total vaccines. Oxfam says at least 90 percent of people in six low-income countries will not be vaccinated by 2021 because of the behavior of rich countries.

Vaccine nationalism is not new, it has a history Despite Indonesia being one of the worst-hit countries in 2007, the H5N1 influenza vaccine failed to be purchased because the rich bought the vaccine through an advance agreement. In 2009, rich countries bought almost all doses of H1N1 influenza (known as swine flu) vaccine, while the most affected countries did not receive the vaccine.

Source: DW