Norwegian Perspectives on Immunization: A Positive Response to Public Health Advocacy during COVID-19

News

Jan 14, 2021

By Alison Hacker

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health inequity has become increasingly apparent. The public health workforce has rapidly mobilized to advocate for at-risk populations who are most vulnerable to the health, political, and socioeconomic effects of the crisis. In Norway, ongoing advocacy efforts have been undertaken to mitigate the spread of misinformation and to educate citizens on the need for a globalized, equitable response to the pandemic.

For instance, a recent article by John-Arne Røttingen, the ambassador for global health at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and director of the National Institute of Public Health, emphasized on the importance of addressing health inequity during the pandemic. He stressed how we will not be able to continue our normal social and economic activities without ensuring that the spread of the virus is controlled in all countries. Importantly, he acknowledged the need for cooperation and solidarity to stop the spread of infection; in his words, “no one is safe until everyone is safe”.

This literature, alongside local public health campaigns, has already proved to be effective. A recent survey, which was conducted by UNICEF Norway, revealed that eight of ten Norwegians believe in the importance of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine fairly throughout the world. The survey also indicated that four out of ten respondents believe that the Norwegian authorities must provide for their own population, even if the opportunity is not available in other countries. Secretary General of UNICEF Norway, Camilla Viken, explained that the pandemic is one of the first times in our modern history that we have all been impacted by the same crisis, perhaps helping citizens understand the importance of immunizing the poorest countries while also protecting themselves.