CCGHR Global Health Round Table Series: Vaccines, Trade, COVID & Equity
Channel: Katrina Plamondon
Date: 2021-02-23

In this first of the CCGHR UAC Round Table Series, panelists Mira Johri, Srinivas Murthy, Ron Labonte, and Katrina Plamondon (17 Feb 2021) explore ten critical questions about the relationship between vaccine nationalism, trade, the COVAX facility and equity. Host Thelma Abu asks experts in the field of global health (each with distinct expertise) to share their perspectives, explain why COVAX and trade agreements are essential levers for equitable recovery from the pandemic, and offer recommendations for how Canada could move forward.

This video provides useful, foundational content to support learners in undergraduate or graduate-level courses, and for anyone who would like to better understand these complex issues.

Questions include: 
1. What is the COVAX facility, and how does it work?
2. With respect to Canada requesting vaccines from COVAX in your opinion, is this the right or wrong thing to do?
3. Generally, how does the intellectual property system for vaccines usually work? What is the current situation?
4. COVAX is trying to increase manufacturing capacity for vaccines. Will this help get the vaccine to everyone who needs it?
5. What would the TRIPS waiver mean for developing countries? What would it allow them to do and how quickly? 
6. How damaging is the vaccine nationalism we’re seeing surrounding COVID-19?
7. What should Canada be doing to promote equity in the global distribution of vaccine?
8. We are seeing the emergence of new variants. Why is this happening, what are the implications for pandemic control, how can it best be limited, what does vaccine nationalism have to do with this? 
9. Some countries are proceeding to administer vaccines in advance of Phase III test results. Why is this happening, what are the risks, how can it best be limited, what does vaccine nationalism have to do with this?
10. What can Canada do now to improve ours, and the world’s, efforts to end the pandemic as quickly as possible?

Recommended citation: 
Johri, M., Murthy, S., Labonte, R., & Plamondon, K. (17 Feb 2021). CCGHR Global Health Round Table Series, Session 1: Trade, Vaccine Nationalism and Global Health Governance. Hosted by Abu, T. & Elliott, S, University Advisory Council. Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research. Available at: www.ccghr.ca 

Useful links: 
Op-Ed by Panelists "Canada's 'me first' COVID-19 vaccine strategy may come at the cost of global health": https://theconversation.com/canadas-me-first-covid-19-vaccine-strategy-may-come-at-the-cost-of-global-health-146908

CCGHR Joint Statement and Call-to-Action on Global Solidarity for Equitable Vaccine distribution: https://www.ccghr.ca/joint-ccghr-csih-statement-call-action-defeating-covid-19-calls-global-solidarity-vaccine-power-play/ 

Why an waiving the TRIPS conditions at the World Trade Organization matters for equitable distribution of vaccines: https://phmovement.org/policy-brief-on-proposed-trips-waiver/