A Global Campaign to End Vaccine Nationalism

CHRISTIANE AMANPOR: Up until mid-April, apparently, only less than 1 percent of people have been vaccinated in sub-Saharan Africa. Can you tell me from your own eyes the urgency of the need on your continent?

THABO MAKGOBA, ARCHBISHOP OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF SOUTHERN AFRICA: Thank you, Christiane, for having us. The urgency is indescribable, because, if one looks at the COVAX system and its intention, it’s supposed to help the global South and the poorest of the poor countries to vaccinate only 3 percent. It is destined to fail. And in my context, I have seen people die without saying goodbye to their families. And if one looks at the scourge in India in your introduction, one is anxious. But should we have that magnitude in the continent, the continent will be wiped off the face of this earth, whilst others are hoarding. So this is not a moral issue only. But it is an issue of greed. And it is an issue that the world should really speak up and stand up against such behavior in the face of death, particularly when monopolies are wanting to make capital, instead of saving life.

AMANPOUR: Golly, Archbishop, when you say wiped off the face of this earth, it’s a really dramatic picture. And it’s a dramatic crisis. So, let me ask you, Seth Berkley. According to the WHO, I think only 2 percent of COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Africa. And, of course, their population represents 16 percent of the world. And we have been reporting on this inequity for months now. And, as the archbishop said, rich countries are hoarding. You’re concerned with the poor nations and the poorest people. What can actually be done? Promises are being made from the highest levels of power. We have heard President Biden himself.

DR. SETH BERKLEY, CEO, GAVI, THE VACCINE ALLIANCE: So, thank you, Christiane, for having us and for taking on this important issue. The numbers are terrible. I mean, high-income countries, about a third of the citizens have gotten one dose. In the lowest-income countries, it’s point 0.2 percent. Clearly, that is not equity. Now, why was COVAX set up? It was because this — something like this happened in 2009, in the last epidemic, and we wanted to try to do something else. But, as the archbishop has said, what’s happened is, there have been export bans, there have not been sharing of doses. And this has been a real challenge. So, COVAX has been able to procure over two billion doses, which will be available by the end of 2021.