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The Key to Beating COVID-19

Although it is only natural and proper for governments to focus on vaccinating their citizens first, it is important not to lose sight of the big picture. The only way we can beat COVID-19 is to defeat it everywhere, and the best way to do that is through multilateral facilities like COVAX.

OTTAWA – It has been a year since the coronavirus pandemic started dominating headlines and our lives. For so many here in Canada and around the world, it has been a period of unprecedented stress and grief. We have all been waiting to heave a sigh of relief once our families, friends, and communities receive their vaccines.

It is only natural that we would focus on the health of our loved ones. But we must not forget that the virus observes no borders. Focusing solely on our domestic responses is not enough. At the same time that we focus on vaccinations for high-risk Canadians, we must also ensure that the rest of the world is on track to being vaccinated, too, and that everyone has access to safe and effective tests and treatments. Beating this virus anywhere requires beating it everywhere.

Fighting a virus on a global scale is a daunting task, but there is much cause for hope. We cheered in December, when a personal support worker in Toronto received Canada’s first COVID-19 vaccine. But now that the global rollout of vaccines through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility is well underway, we have even more reason to celebrate.

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