Japan Should Lead Charge for Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

Credit: United NationsBy Cecilia RussellJOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov 20 2020 (IPS) Japan should step up and play a role as a global facilitator for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, Dr Daisaku Higashi said at a recent Japan Parliamentarians Federation for Population (JPFP) study meeting. The country should use the credibility developed in the post-Second World War era as a country with expertise in peacebuilding to ensure that developing countries are included in the vaccines’ rollout. Higashi, a renowned commentator from Sophia University, warned that only an international effort could solve the problems caused by COVID-19 “Even if Japan succeeds in containing COVID-19 somehow, as long as the pandemic continues elsewhere in the world, there could always be a resurgence as soon as our border is opened to large numbers of foreign visitors,” he said. “The global economy overall will shrink if the global pandemic were to persist, dealing a major blow to corporate profitability and employment in Japan.” “As close to half of Japan’s trading partners are developing countries, it is in Japan’s interest to contain the disease globally. Because the COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat that no one country can fend it off on its own – it is a human security issue,” Higashi said. Dr Daisaku Higashi of Sophia University calls for Japan to play an increasing role in health international politics.His comments are particularly pertinent because in November P...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Aid Asia-Pacific Development & Aid Economy & Trade Featured Global Headlines Health Humanitarian Emergencies TerraViva United Nations Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) Source Type: news