My question is for Dr. Kohler as well. Let me begin by saying that I absolutely agree with waiving the intellectual property rights on vaccines so developing countries can get greater access to them.
I wanted to comment or question you about your article in The Globe and Mail in February, entitled “Developing countries won't forget Canada's 'me-first' approach to vaccines” , in which you talk about a “my-nation-first” approach to vaccines.
An article just came out in the Globe, I think, suggesting that we're committing 100 million doses to developing countries. I think you realize we are one of the biggest contributors to COVAX.
I think the question is going to be when we start sending those doses of vaccine. Let me ask you this. I'm a member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River. I have an obligation to my constituents. I have spent seven years working in developing countries for $1,000 a month, when I obviously could have made way more money here. My kids got malaria; I got malaria and our kids got dengue, but I absolutely believe that global equality in health care ought to be one of our society's greatest goals.
Having said that, if we're advocating starting to give vaccine doses now, when Canadians haven't been fully vaccinated.... For example, my parents, who are in their 80s, have only gotten one dose. If we get the delta variant, apparently one dose decreases incidences of symptomatic disease by only 33%. It's not that good.
What can you say to us as MPs? How should we balance those two important considerations and the fact that people in my riding would probably say that they agree with giving these vaccines, but let's protect our own population first?