Now that the vaccination campaign in Europe is accelerating, temperatures are rising and Italy has recorded the lowest number of deaths from Covid in seven months, all eyes are on the resumption of tourism. Vacationers who dream of the much-coveted lemon granita, scorching heat and beaches might be in luck. With the EU set to reach around 70% immunity from Covid-19 by the summer, a pause is looming for many. But elsewhere the reality is quite different.
In the world, Covid-19 continues to follow a catastrophic trend. Health systems are collapsing. In India, Brazil and now Nepal the scenario is heartbreaking – and health and humanitarian crises are on the rise in many parts of South Asia, Central and South America and the Middle East.
“Now a New Deal for Africa”: 100 billion since the Paris summit. Macron: “Patents off vaccines”
by our correspondent Anais Ginori
These strong inequalities need to be addressed urgently. On Friday, the political leaders of the richest nations on the planet will gather in Rome for the Global Health Summit. Italy as president of the G20 and co-chair of the summit is in an extraordinary position to spur these countries to join forces to address this terrible crisis.
The G20 has the power to end the pandemic at this critical juncture. Almost 90 percent of it can ensure a fair worldwide distribution of Covid 19 instruments.
Brazil, Bolsonaro under accusation: he refused the offer of Pfizer vaccines
by Andrea Guerra
Italy, now at the helm of the G20, should consolidate the important role it played during the pandemic. A year ago, together with the European Commission, the country led the first initiatives aimed at advancing the Covid-19 tools, appealing to solidarity and global coordination. After just two months of presidency of the G20, Italy has called for sustainable solutions to be found to finance the response to pandemic crises by setting up an independent high-level panel for the financing of global commons for health. Now it must continue with this momentum and unite the G20.
In the UK, the Indian variant is scary. “Possible local lockdowns”
by Enrico Franceschini
If the G20 falls behind, the pandemic will spiral out of control. Guaranteeing access to Covid-19 vaccines, treatments and tests for the world population is the only way to beat infections, reduce deaths and prevent the emergence of new dangerous variants.
As Ursula von der Leyen rightly argues, the time has come to move from ad hoc solutions to a sustainable system that is effective for the whole world. The only way to achieve this is to fund the Act-Accelerator – the only global system that guarantees fair access to Covid-19 tools.
The UK secret: so there were zero deaths from Covid
by our correspondent Antonello Guerrera
The Act-Accelerator is ready to make vaccines and vital drugs available where they are most needed. But to do so it still needs 15 billion euros this year. The sum corresponds to less than 1% of the spending that governments have allocated to stimulus packages to heal the consequences of Covid-19.
Vaccines, cold Europe with Biden: “Now more doses, then let’s think about patents”
by Tonia Mastrobuoni, Roberto Mania
The European Commission, which chairs the summit together with Italy, has already made a substantial contribution to the Act-Accelerator, playing a key role within Team Europe. Europe, including Italy, should make an additional contribution of at least 7.2 billion euros, distributed among vaccines, therapies, diagnostics and health systems.
Given the limited availability of vaccines in 2021, it is a scientific and economic imperative to use the doses according to criteria that are as strategic as possible, i.e. protecting the most vulnerable subjects everywhere, including healthcare workers.
The move of the US president also criticized by progressives: “A gift to our enemies”
by our correspondent Federico Rampini
Extending vaccination to the whole world is in the scientific, health and economic interest of every nation, beyond the ethical value of the choice. If we allow Covid-19 to spread further, the virus will continue to evolve, increasing the risk of new, more contagious variants that will cross borders and could escape vaccines and therapies.
High prices and vaccines on sale for our holidays. And Europe rethinks the offer to avoid the Airbnb effect
by Ettore Livini
The first vaccines don’t have to be the preserve of the rich. This week the United States stepped forward with the largest vaccine donation to date. Countries like the UK and the EU, which have purchased the majority of existing vaccine supplies, also need to urgently share doses with the rest of the world, in conjunction with national vaccination campaigns and through Covax. And without further ado, they must establish the timing of the increase in donations as the percentage of the vaccinated population increases.
We risk going towards a frighteningly fragmented world. If the countries that can afford to share don’t, the pandemic will drag on into 2022 and beyond – with more deaths, suffering and economic hardship for all. The great challenges of the 21st century go beyond borders – climate change, drug-resistant infections, new and known infectious diseases. If we do not join forces today, we will create an even more unequal way, making it considerably more difficult to address these common problems.
We can get out of this crisis and Covid-19 in 2021 can be a treatable and preventable disease globally, but only if we give science enough support to keep up with the evolution of the virus and only if the rich countries and poor, they benefit equally. No further delays or apologies are allowed.
(Translation by Emilia Benghi)
.