For example: If we can afford to give half a billion doses of COVID vaccine to poor countries, why can’t I as an American Citizen in the Public System, get the type of mental health care I need? The money to buy those doses going to other countries could fund the type of therapy I need to heal my severe PTSD, but instead I don’t receive appropriate care because the money isn’t available.
Developed nations can’t afford not to give a lot of COVID vaccine doses to poor countries. Not giving poor countries vaccines means giving COVID-19 more opportunity to mutate and cause a new wave in developed countries.
The cost of a new wave in a country like the US is so high that it makes a lot of sense to prevent it buy giving poor countries vaccines.
Why is it the needs of poor people in other countries are often times prioritized over the needs of poor Americans?
Americans whether poor or rich need poor people in developed countries to take vaccines. Pandemic prevention doesn’t work if you don’t think globally and fight viruses where ever they are. Fighting viruses while they are in foreign lands with vaccines is similar to send the military to foreign lands to prevent people from attacking your homeland and generally there’s much more money wasted in military for preventing foreign threads then in public health.
In general the US spends a lot less on foreign aid that most people assume and a lot of the money it does spend gets spend for geopolitical aims such as paying off the Egyptian millitary for accepting Israel as a state.
Josh is unable to post at this point, but here’s his response:
Developed nations can’t afford not to give a lot of COVID vaccine doses to poor countries. Not giving poor countries vaccines means giving COVID-19 more opportunity to mutate and cause a new wave in developed countries.
Short answer:
I’m in agreement with the intention of this thinking 100%; being a responsible world leader includes taking responsibility for helping poorer countries in instances like this. I disagree with how those intentions are realized at times however. America has limited resources despite acting like we don’t. When we still struggle as much as we do with poverty, hunger, and poor health care domestically, I believe it’s ethical to question spending on health initiatives in other countries.
Developed nations can’t afford not to give a lot of COVID vaccine doses to poor countries. Not giving poor countries vaccines means giving COVID-19 more opportunity to mutate and cause a new wave in developed countries.
The cost of a new wave in a country like the US is so high that it makes a lot of sense to prevent it buy giving poor countries vaccines.
Americans whether poor or rich need poor people in developed countries to take vaccines. Pandemic prevention doesn’t work if you don’t think globally and fight viruses where ever they are. Fighting viruses while they are in foreign lands with vaccines is similar to send the military to foreign lands to prevent people from attacking your homeland and generally there’s much more money wasted in military for preventing foreign threads then in public health.
In general the US spends a lot less on foreign aid that most people assume and a lot of the money it does spend gets spend for geopolitical aims such as paying off the Egyptian millitary for accepting Israel as a state.
Josh is unable to post at this point, but here’s his response:
Short answer:
I’m in agreement with the intention of this thinking 100%; being a responsible world leader includes taking responsibility for helping poorer countries in instances like this. I disagree with how those intentions are realized at times however. America has limited resources despite acting like we don’t. When we still struggle as much as we do with poverty, hunger, and poor health care domestically, I believe it’s ethical to question spending on health initiatives in other countries.