Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I would like to make my remarks about the critical importance of self-sufficiency in vaccine production in all cases.
Firstly, I want to acknowledge that last year, around this time, I was very lucky to get my vaccine shot here in Montreal. I'm extremely grateful to Canada for making that available to all of us. At the same time, India was going through a catastrophic delta wave crisis. I was struggling to reconcile my two worlds, where my family and I, even my child, had easy access to vaccines here, but my friends and family, brothers and sisters, and everyone in India was struggling. In fact, the delta wave ripped through an unvaccinated country. When the dust settled, the WHO just estimated that India may have lost 4.7 million people over two years.
I have no words to capture the devastation. I'm still traumatized by seeing so many people die. I just can't stomach why we would allow country after country to get devastated by this virus. Letting this virus rip through the world is a very bad strategy, and 15 million lives, at a minimum, have been lost. We have to do better than this.
Today India is in a much better place. Why? First, it's because India manufactures its own vaccines. Second, it has vaccinated most Indians, at least with two doses. Why should every country in the world not have the same access in this catastrophic crisis we are facing?
Only 16% of the population of low-income countries have had even one dose. Even as my province, Quebec, just made fourth doses available to me and anyone over the age of 18, I am appalled that nearly three billion people around this world had not even had a single dose of vaccine.
This pandemic is far from over. Please do not believe anyone who is telling you to move on. We cannot move on when this virus is absolutely mutating at a very fast pace. We are already seeing subvariants cause so much damage and new waves. Long COVID is further damage that none of us have really calculated. Allowing this virus to mutate and infect more people will result in long-term consequences for all of us.
We cannot vaccinate just Canada or rich countries and boost our way out of this crisis. Vaccinating the world equitably and distributing tests and antivirals are the only long-lasting solutions for us as Canadians. Let us remember this, please: There is no way out of this mess if we do not equitably vaccinate the world.
I am truly disappointed with what we have done so far. I know, in terms of our intent, our Prime Minister has said explicitly that vaccine equity matters to us as Canadians. In terms of our actions, we only donated 15 million doses. What will we do with all of the extra doses? Last year, when there was so much devastation all around, why did we not donate them and save more lives? Why have we acquired the reputation of being a vaccine hoarder globally? That's not a reputation we want as Canadians. We are better than this.
I want to say that giving money is a great thing. I'm glad we're giving money, but I think every country is now saying that charity is not what they're looking for. They're looking for justice and self-sufficiency. I cannot imagine anyone better than Dr. John Nkengasong with Africa's CDC, who put it so eloquently in one of his articles. He said, “Never ever should we have had to keep counting on externalities to take care of our own security needs. A key pathway for collective global security is an Africa that is self-sufficient.”
Self-sufficiency is something we should get as Canadians. Why? In the early days of the pandemic we had no Canadian vaccine. We had no ability to manufacture. We were at the bottom of the list and were desperately looking for shipments from Moderna and Pfizer, and from all parts of the world. Today we have a Canadian vaccine. We are starting manufacturing in Montreal. We are investing in domestic manufacturing. Now please tell me why other countries don't deserve to do the same. If we believe in vaccine self-sufficiency, why should every country in the world not aspire to have their own ability to make antivirals, tests and vaccines?
Our lack of TRIPS waiver action is disappointing to me for that reason. A TRIPS waiver alone is not enough, but in combination with tech transfers, mRNA hubs and other initiatives by the WHO and others, it can completely change the game not only in this pandemic but also for future crises.
The best way to protect the world is to have as many countries in the world be self-sufficient in terms of their own ability to make vaccines, tests and antivirals.
In closing, I would love for us to do three things as Canadians.
Immediately and publicly back the TRIPS IP waiver, not only for vaccines but also for tests and antivirals.
We must also fund the WHO and the African Union to develop their own mRNA hubs and promote self-sufficiency. Vaccine self-sufficiency by other countries should be our explicit stated goal. That is what will keep us safe, not only now but in the future. Let's please donate and honour our pledge for 200 million doses. Let's do it and put a timeline on it. Within the next six months, I would love to see all 200 million doses successfully donated. Also, let's provide more funding for vaccine delivery so that we can support our accelerator and other initiatives.
Lastly, even as rich countries are declaring the pandemic over and cutting back on funds for global vaccination efforts—as the White House is doing—the scientific model and economic case for vaccine equity remains extraordinarily powerful. Please, Canada, let us do the right thing.
Thank you.