GZERO event highlights: IMF chief, G7 vaccine pledges, global health security

For IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva (above), a two-track pandemic means a two-track recovery that'll hurt the entire world in the long run. That's why she anticipates G7 leaders meeting this week will commit to sending about one billion doses of COVID vaccines to the developing world by the end of the year in new financing and shots unused by wealthy nations. Georgieva hopes it'll be a summit that gives all countries "a fair short in the arm, a fair shot at the future."

Georgieva was one of many experts who joined this week's two-part livestream discussion about post-pandemic health security hosted by GZERO Media in partnership with Flagship Pioneering, Beyond the Pandemic: A Radical New Approach to Health Security, presented in partnership with Flagship Pioneering.

This year's G7 meeting comes at the right time for its members to start thinking together about how to prevent the next pandemic, says UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock. Part of that conversation, in his view, should focus on how to reform the World Health Organization so it can quickly — and independently — act when the next new pathogen emerges.

G7 Comes at Right Time To Start Talking WHO Reform | UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

Why has the much-touted COVAX global facility failed to deliver on its promise of equitable distribution of COVID vaccines despite big pledges from rich nations and multilateral organizations like the IMF? "Don't commit to what you cannot achieve," says Agnes Binagwaho, Vice Chancellor at the University of Global Health Equity, who calls out top Western donors for often not walking the talk on commitments — unlike China and India.

“Don't Commit to What You Cannot Achieve" — How the West Hurts COVAX | Agnes Binagwaho | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

When will we need COVID vaccine boosters against new variants? Probably before the fall, according to Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel. And what about IP waivers? He says they are not the solution, and could have negative unintended consequences like stifling future investment in innovative technologies that allowed vaccines to be developed in record time.

Moderna CEO on Vaccine Boosters Timeline, IP Waivers | Stephane Bancel | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

Why is the US not investing huge amounts in health security for Americans and the rest of the world? For Ian Bremmer, the government sees value in spending big on national security or tech to counter China, but less so in bolstering our defenses against public health threats. If this continues, he warns, America will be as ill-prepared for the next pandemic as it was for COVID.

Why Doesn't the US Invest More in Health Security? | Ian Bremmer | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

Watch key moments from the first part of this series on June 8, "Beyond the Pandemic: A Radical New Approach to Health Security,"

This live event series is produced by GZERO Media in partnership with Flagship Pioneering. We thank our event partners, Partnership for a Healthier America and Medtronic.