Governance

On April 23, the final session examined healthcare access policies and public health initiatives across Africa. In our discussions, we explored the politics of health and healthcare policy, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified political barriers to expanding healthcare coverage and access, and the dialogue centered on areas of progress in addressing infectious and chronic diseases. Beyond focusing on the challenges in implementing effective healthcare policies, in this session we invited participants to propose policy solutions as we look towards the future. The study group counted with the presence of external expert guest Dr. Salma Abdalla. Dr. Abdalla is a Sudanese medical doctor and Assistant Professor in Global Health and Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health. She was the Director of the Rockefeller-Boston University 3-D Commission on Determinants of health, Data science, and Decision making. She also served as a secretariat member for the WHO Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Katie Chen, Master in Public Administration/ International Development Candidate at Harvard Kennedy School, delivered a memo briefing on how to boost childhood immunization rates in African countries, including through increased vaccine manufacturing, drone delivery., and behavioural interventions to combat vaccine hesitancy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their COVID-19 isolation guidance, revising the minimum 5-day isolation period plus added precautions for those that are infected with the virus.

Belfer Center Fellow Syra Madad, Senior Director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program at NYC Health + Hospitals and Belfer Center Fellow, has been named to the World Health Organization’s Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research.

Juliette Kayyem writes that two blue states acknowledge that health precautions need to be balanced with other priorities.

As we navigate through another season marked by the co-circulation of multiple respiratory viruses, it's crucial to recognize the progress we've made and the resources at our disposal. Unfortunately, only 19% of eligible Americans have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine and less than 50% received this year’s flu vaccine. With elevated activity for COVID-19, flu, and RSV, it's not too late to benefit from vaccinations and available treatments. The Swiss cheese model of defense remains a reliable strategy for reducing infection risks, and the government's expanded Home Test to Treat Initiative offers a valuable resource for managing COVID-19 and flu. As we adapt to this new normal, it's imperative to utilize these tools and strategies to safeguard our health and that of our loved ones, especially the most vulnerable among us. The fight against these respiratory viruses is a collective effort, and by staying informed and proactive, we can navigate this season more effectively. 

Stephen Walt elaborates his top five reasons why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to take innocent lives, destabilize the region, consume disproportionate amounts of Washington's political bandwidth, and perpetuate fear, suffering, and injustice.

This report summarizes a five-session study group with 25 Harvard students hosted by MEI Senior Fellow Ambassador (Ret.) Edward Djerejian on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The sessions took place in the spring of 2023. 

In September 2023, the Arctic Initiative hosted the official launch of “Arctic Pandemics: COVID-19 and Other Pandemic Experiences and Lessons Learned,” a special Arctic Yearbook issue that examines the health, social, cultural, and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arctic. 

As we approach this year's respiratory season it's important to recognize the importance of vaccination and how vaccines help reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death. 

The virus responsible for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) undergoes constant genetic changes as it mutates over time. This is normal and what most viruses do. Because of this, we do anticipate the continual emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. While some of these variants might appear and then fade away - think of the Delta variant which became the dominate variant in the late summer and fall of 2021 in the U.S. - others could increase, potentially taking the place of older variants.