JOHANNESBURG: If the United Nations was created from the ashes of World War II, what will be born from the global crisis of COVID-19?
Many world leaders at this weeks virtual U.N. summit hope it will be a vaccine made available and affordable to all countries, rich and poor. But with the U.S., China and Russia opting out of a collaborative effort to develop and distribute a vaccine, and some rich nations striking deals with pharmaceutical companies to secure millions of potential doses, the U.N. pleas are plentiful but likely in vain.
Are people to be left to die? Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernndez, a COVID-19 survivor, said of the uncertain way forward.
More than 150 countries have joined COVAX, in which richer countries agree to buy into potential vaccines and help finance access for poorer ones. But the…