Cooperation is still the key to slowing the spread of Covid-19

As Covid-19 vaccines continue to be rolled out across the UK, we mustn’t forget that the whole world is still dealing with the consequences of the pandemic – with the images out out of India a reminder of the threat the virus poses.

A new campaign has been launched by the Department of Health to encourage younger people to get a vaccine when their cohort is up. Although a recent survey by the Office for National Statistics has suggested that while 94 per cent of respondents felt positively about the vaccines, about one in eight 16- to 29-year-olds said they were hesitant. One can only hope that as many young people as possible take up the vaccine

More than half the entire UK population – 33.5 million people – have now received a first dose, while more than 12 million people have had two doses, although the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has said that “the battle is not yet over”.

The same holds true around the globe, even more acutely in some nations – and the UK has a responsibility there too. The Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, appeared on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme on Sky News to urge Britain to restore its overseas aid budget as soon as possible, making clear the “critical importance” in getting vaccines to parts of the developing world.

“The quicker the UK can get its aid level back up to 0.7 per cent the better,” the billionaire philanthropist said, having praised the UK’s support for previous vaccination efforts around the world.

Both of these threads highlight one thing – that working together is the way to help Britain, and the rest of the world, slow the spread of Covid-19. We receive plenty of letters on this subject, with the overriding sentiment being one of empathy for those still suffering.

The nations that make up the UK may be inching towards a total lifting of lockdown restrictions (and the relief is palpable), but the international community is all in this together. Helping each other will help us all.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Voices editor