Will vaccine nationalism lead to the exclusion of Rohingya refugees?

The Daily Star  

Md Saimum Reza Talukder
January 27, 2021

An elderly Rohingya man carries his grandson in a refugee camp in Ukhiya, Bangladesh. Photo: AP

The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted "leaving no one behind" and "equitable access to vaccines" as the basic principles for Covid-19 vaccination around the world. GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, has also set up "equitable and sustainable use of vaccines" and "leaving no one behind" as the core of their high-level strategy for worldwide immunisation. All these strategies are in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. However, global vaccination is not just a mere strategy or goal. This relates to the right to healthcare, which is an integral part of the right to life and must be ensured irrespective of nationality, religion, race, creed or culture.