The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says ‘COVID-19 vaccine nationalism’ is hindering the efforts being made to restart the tourism sector, following the devastating blow it suffered as a result of the Pandemic.
The Minister stated this in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, at the 44th Edition of the United Nations World Tourism Day 2021 celebration.
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He said the tourism sector, which is people-driven, can only open up effectively and contribute to economic growth when the people are adequately protected from COVID-19, adding that ‘vaccine nationalism’ has heightened the inequality and inequity in the global vaccine
distribution system.
He noted that rich countries are able to procure vaccines for their own citizens through direct agreement with pharmaceutical companies; while low and middle income countries are lagging, unable to act as speedily as rich countries in securing the quantity of vaccines they need or unable to
afford to pay for it
He called on rich countries of the world to retrace their steps and embrace a collective and equitable global strategy for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, procurement, and distribution, stressing that they must also stop ineffective nationalistic disposition in COVID-19 responses.
The Minister added that COVID-19 response should be science-driven, with experts in epidemiology, virology and the social sciences and not politicians taking the lead in devising and implementing science-based strategies to reduce the risks that the pandemic poses to the most vulnerable across the globe.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
