Philly Leader

Philadelphia became one of the first U.S. cities this week to call for the G20 nations to take an immediate role on global COVID-19 vaccine equity with city Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole joining the worldwide call for action.

According to an April 6 release, representatives from 16 cities worldwide have joined the non-binding call to leaders worldwide. They note there is a need to take action, and that a lack of access to vaccines in the southern part of the world will present a major risk in the case of future variants. 

“In Philadelphia the poorest and most at risk have suffered disproportionately from COVID-19,” Bettigole said. “The same effects are felt globally, and the poorest countries that have the least capacity to manage the pandemic are hit the hardest. We cannot allow this injustice to continue. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything it’s that until all of us are safe, none of us are.”

Bettigole is part of the letter calling on G20 nations to address information and disinformation about the vaccine. This can come through holding social media and tech companies, as well as anti-vaccination groups, responsible for misinformation, by building vaccination confidence through increasing partnerships to counter misinformation, and by investing in efforts nationally and globally to encourage vaccination.

The letter also asks nations to ensure that countries in the Southern Hemisphere have proper vaccine infrastructure, adjust G20 vaccine donations to COVAX, commit to 15 billion mRNA doses to be produced in six months and invest in manufacturing for what is known as the Global South to create vaccines. The letter also advocates following through with commitments to share expertise with the Global South to manufacture vaccines and publicly voice support for the WTO trade-related aspects of the intellectual property rights waiver.