Incoming WTO head warns 'vaccine nationalism' could slow pandemic recovery

[BaronChocula]

Source: reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization’s incoming chief on Monday warned against “vaccine nationalism’ that would slow progress in ending the COVID-19 pandemic and could erode economic growth for all countries - rich and poor.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters her top priority was to ensure the WTO does more to address the pandemic, saying members should accelerate efforts to lift export restrictions slowing trade in needed medicines and supplies.

The former Nigerian finance minister and senior World Bank executive was appointed on Monday in a consensus process and starts her new job on March 1.

“The WTO can contribute so much more to helping stop the pandemic,” Okonjo-Iweala said in an interview at her home in a suburb of Washington.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trade-wto-nigeria/incoming-wto-head-warns-vaccine-nationalism-could-slow-pandemic-recovery-idUSKBN2AF1QM

[Sancho]

1. The fight over vaccine is inevitable...

...unless there is plenty for everyone.

[paleotn]

2. And she is correct.

Otherwise it's just one flight away.

[Steelrolled]

3. I understand why she said this, but it is still anti-science

and not at all helpful.

[EndlessWire]

4. I don't understand

why you say this is antiscience? What do you mean?

I think she is pointing out the need to vaccinate the planet. We can't exclude any country at all. Now that Trump is gone, we have a chance to prevail.

What do you mean?

[Steelrolled]

5. It is correct we need to vaccinate the planet.

It is also correct that individual nations can achieve a large degree of safety by vaccination (and allowing restrictions to be removed) before the rest of the world. This has occurred again and again with other diseases throughout history.