President Donald Trump earlier claimed that he would stop funding World Health Organization (WHO), a move Bill Gates condemned. Now, the United States hasn't been joining the world leaders' meeting, instructed by WHO, to commit to distributing a future coronavirus vaccine equally around the globe. This results in fears that the POTUS may ignite a vaccine brawl due to his non-participation.
The European Union hosted a gathering for countries to donate funds for the research of new vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. However, the U.S. government never participated.
According to Politico, the Trump administration's lack of interest to join other countries' cooperation to discover a cure for the virus alarms global health official and diplomats. As they all seek to find ways to end the pandemic, which paralyzed economies and kills hundreds of thousands of people around the world, there is Donald Trump, making adverse claims.
The fears only grow as Melania Trump's husband and his aides are now arguing with China and the WHO over the real origin of the disease. Hence, without his and his country's participation in the global effort to find a cure, there are concerns that it will result in a race to develop and distribute the vaccine to a worldwide contest. This will leave the poorer countries unable to immediately get their hands on the treatment like the rich nations.
Donald Trump's "America First" point of view may also result in "unnecessary suffering and death." "The worst situation would be if when these tools are available, they go to the highest bidder -- that would be terrible for the world," Melina Gates claimed. "Covid-19 anywhere is Covid-19 everywhere. And that's why it's got to take global cooperation."
A huge example of this is the global race to acquire the most number of masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment. So, imagine if a similar thing happens to obtain a coronavirus vaccine, it can impose a significant health crisis that will let the virus spread faster and longer. Sadly, the developing countries, and the least equipped ones to fight it, will be left behind to have it.
Also, with Donald Trump's rift against China, if this Asian country may develop the vaccine first, it may find a way to give the U.S. limited access. Anyhow, he is still confident that a vaccine for the coronavirus will be discovered by the end of the year, The Guardian noted. However, scientists reiterated that finding the cure might take 12 to 18 months or longer.
