Equalizing Global Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
Gavi CEO Dr. Seth Berkley, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, and Africa’s CDC Director Dr. John Nkengasong discuss global vaccine efforts with Council Distinguished Fellow Ertharin Cousin.
About This Event
As nations grapple with the enormous global toll of the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines have become powerful commodities and political tools. Wealthy nations, representing just 13% of the world’s population, have purchased half of the global supply of vaccines. As a result, projections state that the vaccines will be widely available in wealthy countries this year, middle income countries in 2022, and most low-income countries in 2023 and beyond. A panel of experts examines how global cooperation and multilateral engagement can support equitable distribution and accelerate access.
About the Speakers
CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
During his time at Gavi, Dr. Seth Berkley has used his experience as an epidemiologist and vaccine development expert to lead Gavi in its mission to improve access to new and underused vaccines and improve coverage and equity in poor countries. Under his leadership, Gavi is co-convener in COVAX, the international mechanism to ensure global, equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Executive Director, UNICEF
Henrietta H. Fore serves as UNICEF’s seventh Executive Director. She has worked to champion economic development, education, health, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in a public service, private sector and non-profit leadership career that spans more than four decades.
Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
In addition to his work at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020 Dr. John Nkengasong was appointed as one of the WHO’s Special Envoys on COVID-19 Preparedness and Response. He previously served as Acting Deputy Principal Director of the Center for Global Health and Chief of the International Laboratory Branch, Division of Global HIV and TB, for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Distinguished Fellow, Global Food and Agriculture
Prior to joining the Council, Ertharin Cousin served as executive director of the UN World Food Programme where she led the world’s largest humanitarian organization from 2012 to 2017. She also previously served as US ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. Cousin is founder and CEO of Food Systems for the Future.