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Written by: Kamran Mofid

Published: 03 January 2021

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Coalitions, collaborations and the common good are driving COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines, not competition,

nationalism, exceptionalism, ‘taking back control’, ‘building walls’ and other small-minded mentalities

Photo: The Deloitte Centre for Health Solutions

COVID-19 Vaccines:A Global Common Good, Gifted to Us By the Values of the Common Good

For generations and generations to come after us, it must never ever be forgotten that we owe a debt of gratitude to those who cooperated, collaborated and pulled together in the interest of the common good and developed the COVID Vaccine to save the world. 

And this is a moment of joy and celebration for me: The World is Saved by Cooperation and the Common Good, Not by Thatcherism, Trumpism, Brexiteerism, Neoliberalism, Selfishness, cruel, inhumane Competition and Exceptionalism, that have done no good, except giving us  the Age of Perpetual Crisis

And thus, this is why I firmly believe that: Why Love, Trust, Respect and Gratitude Trumps Economics

Celebrating Our Future: Simple But Powerful Message

‘How did scientists tackle Covid so quickly? Because they pulled together’-

Dr Charlotte Summers, lecturer in intensive care medicine at the University of Cambridge

…’I began 2020 anxious about the reports emerging from Wuhan: they seemed to imply an asymptomatic transmission of a respiratory pathogen that was serious enough to put sufferers into intensive care units. I am a clinical academic with specialist training in respiratory and intensive care medicine; I also lead a research programme that focuses on the lung inflammation caused respiratory infections – to me, and others, what was being reported looked like serious trouble…

‘By early February, it was clear there was a serious problem, and the ICU where I work began preparing for what might come our way. We held our first multidisciplinary meeting to discuss how we would manage the emerging threat, with colleagues from public health, virology, microbiology and others all joining us on 12 February. At this point there had been 10 reported cases of Sars-CoV-2 in the UK…

‘In the autumn, data emerged suggesting that what many thought would be near-impossible had actually been achieved – multiple effective vaccines against Sars-CoV-2 had been developed in under 12 months. December 2020 has seen the beginning of what will be a massive UK vaccination programme starting with 50 NHS hospitals…

‘Most of the “wins” this year have come from preparedness and collaboration. One example of this is the amazing contribution of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to the UK’s pandemic response. It has allowed us to rapidly learn about Covid-19 by supporting recruitment to observational studies such as Isaric-4C (the WHO Covid-19 study described above), React (a Covid-19 home-testing study), and GenoMICC (a global initiative to understand critical illness), and has offered many thousands of people the opportunity to participate in clinical trials of therapies and vaccines. This work has helped to change clinical practice across the world by delivering important research.

As we head towards 2021, I once again find myself anxious about what the new year might hold. However, I am convinced that preparedness, flexibility and a commitment to collaboration are what is needed to weather the storms that we may face in the coming months and years.’- Dr Charlotte Summers, ‘How did scientists tackle Covid so quickly? Because they pulled together.’

See also:

Public statement for collaboration on COVID-19 vaccine development

Coalitions and collaborations are driving COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines

International collaboration for global accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines

2021 will see ‘vaccine cooperation, not competition,’ Russian official says after AstraZeneca tie-up

New collaboration makes further 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine available to low- and middle-income countries

Why vaccine ‘nationalism’ could slow coronavirus fight

COVID-19 Vaccines A Global Common Good

‘The natural instinct of human beings is towards cooperation and sharing. However, distorted by competition, personal ambition and nationalism, self-interest and greed have become pre-eminent motivating forces, distorting action and corrupting the policies of governments.

Competition is a pervasive element within all aspects of contemporary society, it is thought by many to be a positive and natural part of the human condition, and one that drives innovation and change. Loyal believers in competition assert that in the world of business it serves the consumer by driving down prices and creating virtually unlimited material choice, and will, some claim, be the driving force for environmental salvation. To be blessed with a competitive spirit, it is argued, strengthens an individual’s ability to succeed and overcome rivals; it stimulates “development” and advances in all areas — after all, if the urge to compete and achieve were negated, then what would motivate action?...

‘Cooperation is a fundamental quality of the time; it sits within a trinity of the age alongside unity and sharing. The expression of each of these galvanising principles strengthens and expands the manifestation of the other two; cooperation naturally evokes acts of sharing, which builds unity. Likewise, when we unite, cooperation and sharing occur. The introduction of these essential principles of change into all areas of contemporary life will lay a foundation of social harmony and allow the socio-economic structures to be re-imagined to meet the needs of all.’

Text and Photo: The need for cooperation and unity

And

In praise of cooperation as an insurance at time of crisis: Lessons as coronavirus spreads around the globe

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Embracing 21st century mindset: Collaboration, Cooperation and the Common Good

Birds flying in a V formation in collaboration to support each other’s flight. Photo: Pinterest

And Now a Reflection on Ten Collaborative Steps for the Common Good to Build a Better World