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South Korean President Moon Jae-in joined other world leaders on July 16 in calling for any vaccines developed for COVID-19 to be allocated in a transparent and fair manner. The message called for advance preparations to ensure no inequality or discrimination by nationality or region in the administration of vaccines.

On July 16, the Washington Post published a column jointly credited to Moon, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, and Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh.

“We cannot allow access to vaccines to increase inequalities within or between countries,” the statement stressed.

“When one or more vaccines are successful, it must be a win for all of us,” they said.

The leaders underscored the need for heads of state to marshal their wisdom ahead of time on ideas for fair allocation.

“What happens next [after vaccine development] is equally important. This cannot be a race with one winner,” they said.

“[W]e must urgently ensure that vaccines will be distributed according to a set of transparent, equitable and scientifically sound principles,” they stressed. “Where you live should not determine whether you live.”

“We call on global leaders to commit to contributing to an equitable distribution of the covid-19 vaccine, based on the spirit of a greater freedom for all,” they said in closing.

By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter

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