Vaccine Justice Convening

Описание: The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) in conjunction with the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism held a discussion on Vaccine Justice on 17 June 2021.

COVID-19 exposed the inequalities in healthcare systems throughout the world and the disparities not only within nations, but across countries and even continents. For example, by 10 June, South Africa had administered 2.6 vaccine doses per hundred people – compared to countries like the UAE (138), Israel (117) and the UK (104) per hundred people. Africa lags all continents in terms of vaccination rate and some countries on the continent have yet to roll out mass vaccination campaigns.

This discussion brought together speakers who are experts in their fields, and who are directly engaged in the vaccine justice debate. This convening aimed to bring together diverse stakeholders for a robust conversation to activate and initiate a vaccination awareness campaign to address issues related to vaccine justice, including issues such as accessibility, supply and communications.

Moderator: Mia Malan, Editor-in-Chief, Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism

Panellists: Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health); Mr Noko Makgato (Africa Check); Dr Ames Dhai (SA Medical Research Council); Dr Mohga Kamal-Yanni (Co-chair of policy group of Peoples' Vaccine); Ms Lauren Paremoer (People's Health Movement and senior lecturer at UCT); Mr Kayum Ahmed (Division Director at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) in New York where he manages the Public Health Program’s global work on access to medicines and innovation).