Omicron: Nationalism vaccines only exacerbate the epidemic | Corona virus epidemic

The United Kingdom and the rich nations of Europe are in a panic. Not surprisingly, the global vaccination rate has led to the emergence of new dangerous strains of COVID-19. And once again, rich countries are punishing those affected by vaccination inequalities around the world by closing down borders for anyone from southern African countries.

Obviously, Omicron’s diversity, as noted by the World Health Organization, has not been limited to Southern Africa. Cases have been found in Asia and Europe, including the UK, but Global South has been blamed, while co-operatives to deal with COVID-19 have been retained. This is in line with how rich nations have responded to the epidemic.

At each stage of their response, the prospect of cooperation has been dashed. Western nations have kept – and even closed down – vaccinated instead of giving in large quantities, or on time. For more than a year, the UK and the European Union have rejected a request from South Africa and India to suspend COVID-19 technology in combination with vaccines. Many countries around the world recognize that this is a key factor in developing vaccines to the extent necessary to eradicate the disease. But for leaders like the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, setting up a treat for themselves is very important.

Only seven per cent of people in Africa are fully vaccinated and the latest data shows that one in four health workers in Africa is adequately protected. This is not only bad, but also dangerous: it creates a breeding ground for new species.

Taking time is a problem in this epidemic. As Professor Sarah Gilbert of Oxford University has warned, stopping global warming is essential to prevent the virus from reversing – and making dramatic changes.

As in all parts of the world, African governments have made serious mistakes. Indeed, my organization in South Africa, the Health Justice Initiative, has been reporting the wrongdoings of our government, including the transparency of the vaccination agreement.

South Africa experienced another major political upheaval in mid-2021 and the government has twice reshuffled its health ministers in 12 months.

But South Africa’s health system in the days of apartheid, poverty alleviation, and the year-round failure of timely access to quality vaccines made the government face an impossible task. For the better part of 2021, with fewer international items taken over by Global North, South Africa offered a drip vaccine.

AstraZeneca was originally one of the few vaccines to enter Africa. But disinformation from Pfizer board member Scott Gottlieb’s skepticism about the strength and security of the jab, fueled by EU leaders, also cast doubt on the vaccine. Its use was banned in many African countries, and banned in South Africa, by the coming versions of Beta and Indian export restrictions.

The African Union negotiated a new deal with Johnson & Johnson, through Aspen Pharmacare, a South African company. But the promised 220 to 400 million vaccines were not delivered. Worse, when it came to seriousness, during our third most devastating time in South Africa, Johnson & Johnson did indeed send millions of vaccines that were filled and depleted in South Africa, to countries with the highest vaccines in Europe and North America.

In August, working with the South African government and the Cape Town-based technology company Afrigen, WHO began building the world’s first production of mRNA vaccines and shared them globally, dispelling racist stereotypes that Africa is failing to vaccinate safely. . Embarrassed, Moderna and Pfizer refused to share any information with the hub.

That is why African scientists need to redefine the process, which could take time. In view of the PR crisis, these companies are trying to pass through sites with similar licenses. Contrary to popular belief, these appear to have been designed to undermine WHO efforts.

Along the way, the proliferation of delays, falsehoods, and the secrecy of corporate vaccines contracts with greater control over multiple terrorists, has fueled the mistrust of vaccine companies – with the help of a growing number of vaccines and politicians seeking information.

We need a different way of doing things. More than 100 countries have been pushing for one year for an emergency suspension of technical rights on technologies needed to end the epidemic. The repeal could make it possible for South Africa and other countries to develop vaccines, especially in order to increase the supply of goods for everyone and save lives. But it has been repeatedly shut down by the UK and the EU, for no good reason.

In contrast, South Africa has been involved in international cooperation on the epidemic – hundreds of volunteers are testing the vaccine and its scientific diagnostic methods to help detect new strains of COVID-19.

If we do not want COVID-19 to continue to promote discrimination and colonialism around the world, we need to change. And believe it or not, it could benefit the UK and Europe, too. Because you can’t set strict rules or build high walls to prevent the effects of vaccination. We need to stop everything and remove any barriers to vaccination – and intelligence is a priority among them. We need cooperation and cooperation, not travel restrictions.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Al Jazeera.