Thread by @T_Inglesby

We're now passing very sad milestone of 1 Million deaths from COVID in the world. Its worth thinking about what is working effectively internationally, and what isn’t, esp in terms of global cooperation and systems. Here are some thoughts on that: 1/x

.@WHO and most countries in world have joined together to jointly plan and buy vaccine via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access [COVAX] Facility. There has never been an effort like this before. This has potential to do enormous good. pulitzercenter.org/reporting/who-… 2/x

If it succeeds as planned, it'll accelerate vaccine development + allow access to vaccine to high income + low income countries. But it'll require substantial fundraising. Unfortunately neither China nor US are partners in it, which is leadership failure on both their parts. 3/x

Beyond COVAX, @WHO has been doing great deal of work aimed at getting control of COVID. And they are source for technical guidance around globe. They deserve support of countries around the world. Here too US has moved in exactly wrong direction. 4/x who.int/emergencies/di…

Food insecurity is on the rise from COVID around world. Clear example of how costs of pandemic are societally broad, far beyond direct illness and mortality. Important for World Bank and national donors to respond and assist. worldbank.org/en/topic/agric… 5/x

Misinformation about COVID is major challenge globally. WHO has called it “Infodemic”. who.int/news-room/deta… Particularly difficult since some of the erroneous information is from governments themselves. Need stronger responses to this. 6/x

Here is example of how one government targeting another country (US) to spread COVID disinformation. Sewing division over COVID now takes its place next to other major information security vulnerabilities from abroad theguardian.com/us-news/2020/j… 7/x

COVID has shown us the fragility around international supply chains, including even oxygen supplies. Improving global access to PPE and critical equipment needs to be addressed in a big new way 8/x mckinsey.com/industries/pha…

For the worst pandemic in 100 yrs, it is striking that countries have learned so little about origin of this virus. We need strong, collegial international scientific partnership and study aimed at understanding the origin of this pandemic to better prepare for future events.9/x

Collaboration between IATA and governments for the purpose of resuming international air travel is good example of how many of our international systems are in private sector, how essential they are in recovering from epidemics/pandemics. schengenvisainfo.com/news/iata-urge… 10/x

More broadly, global cooperation between governments, international organizations and private sector are key to getting us through COVID and will be fundamental to preparing for future ones. 11/x

We need this strong pub-private collaboration for vaccine development; supply chains; movement of people, goods; provision of good, reliable information; financing and more. 12/x

It's in strong interest of all countries that pandemic becomes contained everywhere. Individual national outbreaks of SARS – COV2 in one corner of world could move quickly to threaten others, even those who've contained it. Protecting just well off countries won’t work. 13/x

Overall, pandemics make clear how connected we are. We need to work together to strengthen global systems, improve way we manage infectious disease crises. Take time to remember the million people lost so far to COVID, and commit to building better responses in the future. /end