What Vaccine Passports Say About Global Equity

What Are Vaccine Passports and How Do They Relate to Equity?

Read the summary, watch the video and answer the discussion questions. To read a transcript of the video, click here.

As vaccines continue to roll out globally, wealthier nations have been inoculating their populations at a much higher rate than countries in the southern hemisphere, sparking the debate over “vaccine passports.” Northwestern University professor Steven Thrasher, instead, argues in favor of focusing on greater vaccine equity.

Discussion Questions: Vaccine Passports and Global Equity

• Who is Prof. Steven Thrasher?
• Why is Thrasher concerned about vaccine passports as they relate to those who live in wealthier countries versus those who live in the Global South?
• What is global vaccine equity, according to Thrasher?
• How does Thrasher propose solving problems with vaccine equity? 
• Where does the issue of vaccine equity exist? 

Focus Questions: Vaccine Equity and Capitalism

1. Do you think humans have a special obligation to help others during a global pandemic? How might empathy play a role here? What civic actions may be taken to make sure the vaccine gets to less wealthy countries?
2. Why does a system like capitalism based on private enterprise and profit-making make it harder to ensure vaccine equity occurs? How might you convince companies to share the vaccine at lower prices to less wealthy countries?

Media Literacy: Who else do you think should have been interviewed as part of this story? Why?

Extension Activity

Watch this video about equity and equality by the University of Maine’s Rising Tide Center. Ask your students: How does the message of this video relate to the issue of vaccine equity? If wealthier countries are producing the vaccines and receiving the patents (see definition above), how does vaccine distribution become an issue of equity?

Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Extra.