Merlin Léonard is a member of the student movement Comac in Liège. In 2018, he travelled to Palestine where he met Viva Salud's partners. We asked him about the impact of the Israeli occupation on access to vaccines for Palestinians and why he supports the European citizens« initiative »No profit on the pandemic".
What impact has the occupation had on the vaccination campaign in Palestine?
«Israel refuses to vaccinate a whole section of the population. At the very most, it only vaccines Palestinians who enter the country to work in Israel. So here we have a very concrete example of a medical blockade on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with a country that has the means to vaccinate everyone but consciously chooses not to do so.»
Why release vaccines from their patents?
«So we're really seeing the monopolisation of goods that are necessary for the whole population in a handful of countries that have bought all the doses. That's really the first reason, a reason that could be called anti-imperialism.»
And the other reason?
«We could finally relieve the pressure on the nursing staff, but no, instead we're forced to wait for the private sector to try and make up for all the lost time they've accumulated. Those are the two reasons why we need this strike.»
«That's why I'm supporting the European Citizens» Initiative in favour of a vaccine for all, are you?"
Interview and video : Logan Danhier
