Katy Balls Katy Balls

How the government plans to respond to ‘vaccine nationalism’

Is the only route back to normality through a coronavirus vaccine? That’s what the Prime Minister will suggest today when he addresses the virtual Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Conference. With the conference aimed at driving forward a collective global effort for a vaccine, Boris Johnson will say only a mass-produced vaccine will truly defeat the virus: 

‘To win this battle, we must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our people and that can only be achieved by developing and mass producing a vaccine.’

A vaccine is viewed as the simplest route out of the pandemic. As a result, every country is interested in finding one – with larger, richer countries throwing resources at their own national effort. Governments are also lobbying companies so they can be first in the queue – with 70 treatments under development worldwide.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in