Whilst many of us have tried to forget the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was only in May of last year, that Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, officially declared an end to the global public health emergency. A true testament to the incredible efforts of the global health and science community. Tackling the seemingly insurmountable task of distributing vaccines throughout the world, and delivering them to all corners of the earth.
On these remarkable expeditions, traveling up mountains, across rivers, through deserts and snow, and into dense urban centers – the vaccines needed to be protected. Safely stored and transported, in many cases by hand, within cold vaccine carrier boxes. A humble plastic box that changed the course of history.
Created in collaboration with CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO, The-Delivery.org is a digital time capsule modeled on those life-saving vaccine carrier boxes. It contains official findings and stories of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, ensuring the data is safely stored and easily accessible for future generations to learn from.
Says Kate O’Brien, director, Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at the World Health Organization: “The stories of this delivery underline the need for a tailored approach in order to reach the communities who need protection the most. They also reveal an incredible human triumph: our global community joined forces, coordinating in partnerships and overcoming seemingly impossible challenges to protect one another.”
Hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals around the world have contributed to the data sets within this virtual time capsule. It contains an immersive exploration of key findings such as vaccination rates by country, a snapshot of financial burdens, and deeper examinations of how lower-income countries overcame unique and significant challenges. It also uncovers heartfelt human stories from the frontline, many of which were captured by an extensive network of photojournalists who witnessed the world’s largest public health response firsthand.
Says Kristen Morris, client services director at Daylight: “It’s been a real privilege to partner with WHO right from the start of the pandemic, and now CEPI, Gavi and UNICEF too. So, producing this immense retrospective is a real full-circle moment for us at Daylight. It’s a project that has been brought to life through a huge amount of passion from literally everyone in our business, working alongside these incredible agencies during such a pivotal moment in history.”
Released under Creative Commons, every part of this platform is available to all media around the world. To ensure the lessons of the pandemic are never forgotten.
