Read on Twitter
. @WHCOS and @JakeSullivan46: we appreciate your support for the #TRIPSwaiver. NOW: we need a Global #COVID19Vaccines Czar in the @WhiteHouse. Someone with access to both of you and @POTUS. 1/
This CANNOT be a lower post somewhere in @USAID or elsewhere. This person has to corral companies, the US’ allies, scientists worldwide to manage tech transfer, scale up of manufacturing, coordination of global supply chains for raw materials. 2/
This also CANNOT be handed off to #COVAX or #CEPI. They do NOT have enough political power to make anything happen beyond the status quo. 3/
Think of this as a #JeffZients for global #CovidVaccine access. 4/
Why us? Why you? This is like President Bush’s PEPFAR, except on a scale vastly larger. It will be your global legacy. 5/
Right now other countries understand the importance of vaccine diplomacy, but are simply using exports of their own national vaccines for this purpose. NO ONE is marshaling the world’s resources, providing global leadership. 6/
India is burning. It is a humanitarian catastrophe but also an economic and political one: any country unvaccinated can ignite a #COVID firestorm destabilizing entire regions. 7/
This is the next step and we have no time to lose. 8/
. @SherylNYT @ddiamond @kiranstacey @michaelphirsh THIS is the story now. Who will lead? Who will be in charge? Right now there is a power vacuum on global #COVID vaccine access. 9/
