The news that the UK will donate its surplus covid vaccine to poor countries after it has been offered to everyone at home gives cause for concern. Are we being selfish and in any case is this policy wise given that the virus is changing? We can’t come out of the pandemic alone. No one comes out of the pandemic until everyone does. If the Pandemic has taught us anything surely it is that we live in a global community. What affects one nation affects all nations.

Perhaps we might paraphrase Matthew’s gospel account of the last judgement 25: 31 – 46 when thinking about this question. “I was threatened by covid 19 and you gave me a vaccine – or didn’t.” The gospel tells us, “in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.”  

The call for universal solidarity chimes well with the encyclical. “Fratelli Tutti from Pope Francis.

This is difficult for those waiting for their second vaccine. Yet have we rolled out the production of these vaccines to the fullest extent? Could there be a universal plan on the part of the developed countries with access to vaccine production to level the playing field?

Lets not go back to the way things were before. Perhaps the sharing of vaccines is the litmus test.