Why Global Citizens Should Care
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing health care inequalities across the globe. Only by ensuring everyone in every community has access to health care and a vaccine can we achieve a global recovery from the pandemic, while continuing the fight against extreme poverty. You can join our VAX LIVE campaign and take action on this issue here.

Superstar Selena Gomez took to Twitter to call on world leaders from Italy, Spain, France, the US, and New Zealand on Saturday to step up support for global vaccine equity as part of Global Citizen's VAX LIVE campaign.

Hosted by Gomez and airing on May 8, VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World aims to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world by calling on world leaders to donate surplus COVID-19 vaccines or make financial commitments to vulnerable countries.

Right now, Global Citizens’ are taking action to make sure more than 27 million health care workers serving on the front lines against the pandemic in the world's poorest countries can receive access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will donate 7.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Latin America and the Caribbean throughout 2021 as part of 27th annual Ibero-American Summit in Andorra, in support of the VAX LIVE campaign.

And on Sunday morning, he responded on Twitter to Gomez's request.

Cisco has pledged US $5 million to COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, to ensure frontline workers and the most vulnerable community received access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Gomez also called on New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta to pledge to make sure the Asia-Pacific region surrounding Australia and New Zealand receive access to surplus COVID-19 vaccines.

The 25,000 Pacific islands, such as Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Tonga, have limited medical infrastructure and rely heavily on development aid to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing impact throughout the region.

Selena Gomez also issued tweets calling on the US and the EU to support the campaign, as well as Global Citizen partner Cisco and vaccine manufacturer Moderna.

European Union Commission President also heeded Gomez's call.

VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World will take place in May at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Airing globally on May 8, the event will bring together world leaders, artists, and more, featuring performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin, H.E.R., and more to support global vaccine equality, inspire confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, and encourage people to get their shots when they can.

A true recovery from COVID-19 can only happen if everyone, everywhere has access to testing, treatments, and vaccines, and now, more than ever, the voices of Global Citizens matter.

Global Citizen launched our year-long Recovery Plan for the World campaign in February as a roadmap to prosperity and recovery during and following the pandemic, prioritizing health, hunger, education, environment, and equity.

You can join us and take action now.

TopicsCiscoSpainSelena GomezCOVID-19Ursula von der LeyenPedro SanchezCOVID-19-ImpfstoffVAX LIVE

Impact

Defeat Poverty

Selena Gomez Just Called on 5 Countries and the EU to Donate Extra COVID-19 Vaccine Doses — and These Leaders Responded

By Camille May