Thread by @JeremyFarrar

News reports are chilling as the pandemic continues to expand globally. This may seem far away, almost abstract in countries where transmission is now lower & vaccine available & equitably accessible. Reality is very different in many parts of the world.
theguardian.com/world/2021/apr…

This very personal experience was shared by a friend today. It brings home the reality of the global situation and the impact of continued transmission and an inequitable access to vaccines.

“My dad told me that in our village - 12 people died Covid related deaths over the weekend. Those are the ones we know of. Today my uncle died - my dad’s brother. He is the 5th member of my immediate and extended family to die in the last few months."

"Two of them a husband and wife in their 50s are survived by young children. It all feels like a losing battle. I understand countries cite economic reasons for not enforcing lockdowns and in the richer countries the priority is vaccinating nationals over the rest of the world."

"In between these points of view - there are so many needless death. Please don’t stop talking to the international community about vaccine roll out, sharing knowledge, access & resource."

"It may feel hard and thankless but please don’t stop. Your voice has meaning and sway and you are speaking for people who don’t have a voice on this issue.”

This is the reality globally. Science has provided the tools to end this pandemic, science from all over the world. Yet that science is only available to a very small number of countries. Science that is equitably accessible to the world is the exit strategy for all of us.

This is a personal, public health & a scientific imperative. It is also an economic & financial imperative & a moral, social justice & ethical imperative. Whatever your perspective, all these align. There is no end to this pandemic until science is equitably available to all.

‘Science is the exit strategy” the comment of 2020 should be updated as was always intended to – “Science that is available to the world is the exit strategy”