Vaccine Diplomacy: Reimagining A New Normal

“In a pandemic, we are only safe once everyone is safe.”- António Guterres. Jamaica recorded a record breaking 878 confirmed cases of coronavirus on March 7 with a positivity rate of 39%. It appears from all indicators that Jamaica is not at the place that the nation should be regarding its COVID-19 response. The country started out very well at the onset of the coronavirus, however, something happened along the journey and it seems only a full lockdown can recalibrate and stem the surge of confirmed coronavirus cases in this uphill fight against COVID19. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in the last few weeks to levels unimaginable. It has become commonplace for Jamaica to record triple digits on COVID-19 cases daily. Jamaica recorded a COVID-19 positivity rate of 40.1% on February 25. There are 366 people hospitalized, 27 of whom are critically ill and 66 are experiencing moderate symptoms. To date over 33,970 Jamaicans have tested positive for the novel coronavirus along with 17,401 active cases. Sadly, 519 Jamaicans have died from COVID-19 to date. While Jamaica has increased the number of tests being conducted for COVID19; the Health Ministry seems to have dropped the ball regarding contact tracing. Jamaica is approaching a very critical juncture regarding the ability of the healthcare system to adequately manage the increasing number of coronavirus cases. A number of our public hospitals have reported full capacity surrounding COVID-19 spaces. Recently, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Chris Tufton informed the nation to expect lengthy delays at public hospitals. In fact many elective surgeries have had to be postponed due to the stress on the healthcare system from coronavirus cases. Our frontline workers are stressed and based on this trajectory it appears all the sacrifices made earlier will be cancelled out. Those among us who have healthcare challenges outside of the coronavirus will suffer as the healthcare system tries to keep afloat. The Medical Doctors Association has called for a full lockdown, however, business sector interests are not in favour. There is merit in trying to balance livelihoods and the health of the nation; however, there comes a point when tough decisions will have to be made to safeguard the health of the nation. Some Jamaicans have moved on beyond the protocols implemented under The Disaster Risk Management Act and life for them is far removed from the reality of the novel coronavirus. The gobal conspiracy that COVID-19 is not real has many supporters, and there are folks who argue this point because they have not known anyone who have contracted this deadly virus. Sadly, many hold steadfast to this opinion until they have been inflicted by the virus or someone close to them have. In some public spaces masks are not worn, there is no social or physical distancing and we continue to party as if it's 1999. Our people for the most part are indisciplined; some will argue it’s a legacy of the plantation system in which an overseer was needed at all times. The Ministry of Health and Wellness states the increase in the daily positivity rate is a cause for concern and reflects that there may be a complacent attitude that is taking hold in the population with regards to COVID-19 protocols. The COVID-19 cases are rising more and more as more persons are now in the category of asymptomatic. Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on Sunday, February 28 new restrictions in an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19. As of March 1, 2021, curfew hours will remain at 8 pm nightly to 5 am until March 23, 2021. All zoos, parks, gyms and bars are to be closed by 6pm until March 22, 2021. During the period March 1 to 22, only students who will sit the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) should be doing face-to-face classes. As of Thursday, March 4, 2021 there must be a Work from Home Arrangement in the Public Sector; the age has been lowered to 60. Public gathering limit remains at 10 persons until March 22, 2021. Funerals have been documented as a super spreader event of COVID-19. As a result effective March 8, 2021 funerals and burials will be prohibited and no burial orders will be issued. Beaches and rivers are closed until March 22, 2021. Weddings are limited to 25 guests, and as of March 1 to 22, 2021 churches are instructed to engage in online services only. Additionally, only 10 members are allowed to deliver the service and do the necessary management and conduct the service. All these new measures will fall short of their projected objective if the people do not decide to change their behaviour; additionally adequate policing must be a critical component of the way forward. The Health Ministry is of the view that symptomatic persons are not taking precautions at home with the result that contact tracing is yielding several positives in the households and communities all across Jamaica. Many of these contacts are without symptoms and are not adhering to any infection prevention and control measures. Disturbingly, too many people are still moving about unnecessarily. India and China in Search of World Dominance More than 240 million people across the globe have received a COVID-19 vaccine. The first dosages of COVID-19 vaccine should arrive in Jamaica during the second week of March. On the global scene India and China have been engaging in vaccine diplomacy fight as both countries continue their quest to assert their influence over smaller countries. It is safe to say that COVID19 vaccines have become a tool of diplomacy and negotiations and this is cause for concern. India is clearly the superpower in this regard as they have the largest machinery in place to manufacture vaccines. India has been giving away millions of doses to neighbours friendly and estranged. China was one of the first countries to make a diplomatic vaccine push, promising to help developing countries last year even before the nation had mass produced a vaccine that was proved to be effective. It was reported recently that China would be donating 300,000 vaccine doses to Egypt. The popular Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are Sinovac and Sinopharm. The Serum Institute of India the world’s largest vaccine factory produces the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at a daily rate of about 2.5 million doses. That pace has allowed India to begin to distribute doses free of charge to neighbours such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and Afghanistan as well as allies such as Jamaica and other Caribbean islands such as Barbados and Guyana. The Serum Institute of India has also pledged 200 million doses to the World Health Organization (WHO) COVAX programme. COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization. How can India and China both with populations over a billion people each be in a position to donate so many COVID-19 vaccines? To date, India has only vaccinated 14.24 million people or 0.18% of its population. China on the other hand has distributed 40.5million dosages to its population; this is just a fraction of what is required to achieve vaccinated herd immunity. The New York Times reported that the government of India has room to donate COVID19 vaccines abroad, even after months when cases soared and the economy was hobbled, and even as it has vaccinated just a tiny percent of its 1.3 billion people. One of the reasons for a lack of backlash in India is primarily because the Serum Institute is producing at a faster rate than India’s inoculation programme can currently handle, leaving extras for donations and exports. Some will argue that China’s generosity to offer COVID-19 is part of its extension of the Belt and Road Initiative. China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013 to improve connectivity and cooperation on a transcontinental scale. Launched by President Xi Jinping the Belt and Road Initiative is a collection of development and investment initiatives stretching from East Asia to Europe and include the Americas, Africa and the Middle East which significantly expand China’s political and economic influence. Jamaica in 2019 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China signaling that Jamaica is on the Belt and Road initiative. Chinese Ambassador Tian Qi praised Jamaica’s decision to sign on to the mammoth Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying that it has opened a new era of mutual development and cooperation between the two nations. As with any relationship one party stands to benefit much more than the other. A Culture of Resistance Many Jamaicans have adopted a wait and see attitude regarding whether or not to take the COVID-19 vaccine. A popular Jamaican athelte commented recently that he would rather miss this summer’s Olympic Games in Japan, than take any COVID-19 vaccines. The cost for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is cheaper than both Moderna and Johnson and Johnson COVID19 vaccines. The Jamaica government has stated that a massive public education campaign will be embarked upon to encourage Jamaicans to take the COVID-19 vaccine once they become available. The Government has announced that it has reached a deal with the African Medical Supply Platform for the delivery of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, starting next month. The Minister of Health Chris Tufton had told Parliament recently that Jamaica would receive approximately 140,000 doses of vaccines from COVAX and up to 249,000 of the AstraZeneca vaccines by mid-February. Each person is expected to get two doses of the vaccine. Understandably, many persons are apprehensive about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, however, the vaccine will prevent you from dying or needing hospitalization if you become infected. The vaccination roll out will be conducted over three phases. It is estimated that approximately 65 per cent of Jamaicans will be vaccinated by March 2022. In the words of Dr. Anthony Fauci, Please don’t give up. Don’t despair, the end is in sight. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo ©