On June 27 the Biden administration will meet to discuss progress over its first six months in office, including on controlling COVID-19. The World Trade Organization will also meet to determine the fate of the temporary intellectual property rights waiver for COVID-19 vaccines which would expand desperately needed worldwide vaccine production.
While the United States has a surplus of COVID-19 vaccines, many countries around the world still have little to no access to them. This inequality has led to prolonged shutdowns, worsening hunger and poverty, and avoidable sickness and death around the world. In addition, virus variants are emerging in areas without vaccine access and threatening to make existing vaccines less effective.
As people of faith, we believe all life is interconnected and that we cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of our neighbors, near or far. As Pope Francis reminds us, “We are all in the same boat.” We need a full-scale global vaccine campaign to address the grave threats so many are still facing from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 80 faith-based organizations have issued a letter calling on the Biden administration to take these same key steps. Your message will help amplify the urgent call to address global vaccine inequality.