In a world plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic, the global response varied greatly between Western nations and China. The difference in handling the crisis can be attributed, in part, to the control over the vaccine supply chain. China’s ability to quickly produce and distribute vaccines gave them an advantage in the early stages of the pandemic, allowing them to provide vaccines to regions where the West had limited access.
While China’s approach may have shown results in terms of minimizing excess deaths and fast vaccine development, their stringent lockdown measures are not a model many would advocate for. The debate over the effectiveness of lockdowns underscores the need for better pandemic preparedness without resorting to such drastic measures.
Moving forward, Western nations must prioritize developing a coordinated pandemic strategy with a strong international framework. By leveraging institutions like NATO for pandemic response coordination, investing in surveillance and innovation similar to defence efforts, and setting ambitious goals for vaccine development, the West can better prepare for future health crises.
As the world navigates the aftermath of Covid-19, the focus on pandemic preparedness is more crucial than ever. By learning from past mistakes and investing in robust strategies, democracies can lead the way in safeguarding global health security.\
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