COVID-19 - ACT Alliance

ACT Alliance is one of over 100 religious leaders and faith-based organizations globally calling on leaders of the World Health Organization to secure equity commitments to protect all populations everywhere from future pandemics. The letter was delivered on the opening day of the intended final nine-day negotiating session in Geneva for the Pandemic Accord, a new international agreement of UN member states to bolster pandemic prevention, preparedness and response efforts.

“The sanctity of human life often seemed forgotten in the pandemic, with the lives of people in wealthy nations appearing to be valued over those in low- or middle-income countries,” states the letter. “As you enter the final stage of negotiations, we implore you to deliver an agreement that ensures every life is valued equally.”

Millions of people lost their lives during the COVID-19 emergency due to late and inequitable access to tests, treatments and vaccines. The letter urges negotiators to reach an agreement that ensures that everyone, everywhere can benefit from scientific advancement and that the tools needed to fight the next pandemic are shared equally, including necessary knowledge and technology.

It also urges negotiators to ensure that intellectual property barriers are removed when necessary, and that people in the Global South are “treated not as mere samples for pandemic monitoring, but as equal partners in a collective endeavour towards a healthier world.” Over the course of the pandemic, despite the sharing of genetic information that enabled production of effective vaccines, these products were not accessible to many. The proposed pathogen access and benefit sharing (PABS) mechanism in the agreement aims to remedy this by ensuring that sharing of pathogen data also enables equitable access to resulting medical tools.

Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, general secretary of ACT Alliance said, “We stand at a critical moment where the conscience of humanity must guide our actions. The inequities uncovered by the pandemic demand a response rooted in compassion and justice. As nations convene to shape the future of global health, let us not forget that every life is precious and deserving of equal protection. The Pandemic Accord must be a testament to our commitment to valuing every individual, regardless of their geography or socioeconomic status. We urge negotiators to seize this opportunity to ensure that the lessons learned from COVID-19 pave the way for a world where health equity is not just an aspiration, but a reality for all.”

Letter signatory Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa said, “As the world prepares for future pandemics, it is essential that it plans to give equal protection to all people, everywhere, not only for moral reasons but to protect one another. COVID-19 showed us that none of us are safe until all of us are safe, and that only a comprehensive response that covers the world can bring pandemics under control.”

The letter was organized by Public Citizen, in collaboration with the ACT Alliance, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and the People’s Vaccine Alliance.

The final text of the Accord is slated for presentation to the World Health Assembly in May.

“Africans are not anti-vaxxers,” says Lolem Ngong, of AMREF Health Africa, one of the speakers at the vaccine equity and hesitancy workshop hosted by the ACT Alliance Africa Forum on September 30 and co-convened, with strategic partners such as the All Africa Conference of Churches, Amref Health Africa, the Christian Council of Nigeria, the Network Religious and Traditional Peacemakers and the WHO. The workshop drew more than 130 registrants. The final report is now available, as is a recording of the event.

“As a kid I knew the significance of my yellow book,” Lolem says. “We have innovated to make sure vaccines happen; why should COVID be different?” Africa’s success with child immunisation, recorded around the world in a small yellow book, shows that remote populations can be reached. Lolem also singled out the ACT Alliance Vaccine Equity Brief as an excellent blueprint for action.

Obstacles to vaccination

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa faces several obstacles. First is access to vaccines. “Globally enough vaccine is produced; the challenge is ensuring it reaches the right people,” says panelist Rev. Dr. Fidon Mwombeki of the AllAfrica Conference of Churches. “Because of hoarding by rich countries, poor countries don’t get what they need.” Booster shots in wealthy countries will only increase this disparity.

Workshop speakers also noted the massive challenge of trying to reach 60-70% of a population of 1.2 billion people by September 2023, given that only 3-4% are now fully vaccinated.

Panelists noted that vaccine hesitancy, and issues of trust and safety will need to be addressed to reach vaccine targets.

Faith communities’ role

Africa’s faith actors have “massive health and community infrastructures” and are well-placed to assist in vaccine distribution and education, said panelists from the World Health Organization. “Honest and caring conversations” with those who are vaccine hesitant could be offered by faith actors. “Faith actors are able to reach those left behind and tackle misinformation,” added Dr. Mohamed Elsanousie of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. African faith leaders’ access to government leaders could help government systems and policies respond to community needs.

A presentation by faith leaders from Nigeria and Zimbabwe and the feedback from breakout groups validated the role of Africa’s faith communities and faith leaders in vaccination outreach. Churches can be used as vaccine sites and faith communities are already leading by example.

“Although there are signs of the pandemic easing in the Global North, this issue is far from being resolved in Global South countries, especially in Africa,” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary, in his closing remarks. “Faith actors have a fundamental role to play in tackling misinformation, enhancing confidence and calling out vaccine apartheid.”

Workshop participants have finalized a Declaration drawing on the main messages and themes discussed at the webinar.

ACT Alliance joins religious leaders in call for global health equity as nations gather to finalize Pandemic Agreement

ACT Africa Forum hosts vaccine seminar