I read that our government is planning to make the Covid vaccine available to several developing countries and to illegal aliens, er sorry, to ‘non-citizens.’ That is who we are as Americans and I am proud that we are willing to come to the aid of others in need.
There is just one thing that causes me a bit of concern. I am an American who was educated in America, worked for American companies, served in the American army, participated on the board of American charities and donated to many more, and I have paid American taxes for more years than I can remember. I and a number of my octogenarian friends have for many weeks been on a wait list in three different counties for our first vaccine – – with no detectable encouraging prospects.
Is there is something wrong with this picture?
– – – Just the view of a common man
Views of a Common Man 
You are so right ! There is definitely something wrong with this picture!
Sent from my iPad
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Absolutely there is something wrong with this picture. Furthermore, it is not
the first time America has sacrificed its citizens to provide aid to other countries.
We provide economic assistance, humanitarian aid, multilateral economic
contributions, bilateral development aid, and military aid to countries that are
recovering from war, developing countries, and countries that are strategically
important to the U.S. In 2018 and 2019 the U.S. spent over $47 billion on foreign
aid. US Foreign Aid by Country for 2021 is available on line.
The New York Times relates that wealthy countries have come under increased
criticism in recent weeks for stockpiling doses of the vaccine and keeping them
away from low and middle-income countries. Really? The accusations are
certainly not based on facts when only 13.1% of the total US population has
been vaccinated, and only 5.7% of the population has received both doses.
Nevertheless, there is a need to provide the vaccine globally. NYT reported that
more than 190 million people have been vaccinated worldwide, but almost none
in Africa. Bodies have piled up on the streets in Bolivia, while in Mexico, oxygen
shortage has led many to die at home. World Health Organization (WHO)
chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently urged countries and drug makers to
help speed up the manufacture and distribution of vaccines across the globe, warning
that the world could be “back at square one” if some countries went ahead with their
vaccination campaigns and left others behind. He said at the Munich Security
Conference “Vaccine equity is not just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing
to do. The longer it takes to suppress the virus everywhere, the more opportunity it
has to change in ways that could make vaccines less effective – an opportunity to
mutate.” Tedros correctly claims that this small virus has taken the whole world
hostage.
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Jeanette, You always have well thought out and well research comments. Thanks for taking the time to do that. Ollie P.S. Finally to the call today with a vaccine appointment time. Yea!
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Thanks Jeanette,
As usual you make thoughtful and on point comments.
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