Global Citizen Hopes to Reunite the World Through a Virtual Concert that Will Get Vaccines to Heroic Frontliners

New York Wire Staff

There are approximately 27 million healthcare workers around the world risking their lives every single day, working tirelessly, and enduring time away from their loved ones to serve patients affected by COVID-19. There is a pressing demand to ensure that the vaccines get to them first before the majority of medical service providers are overwhelmed by the increasing number of cases in some parts of the world. Purchasing and mobilizing vaccines so that they get to these health workers on time necessitates funding, and Global Citizen is taking on this massive responsibility by initiating VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World.

On May 8, 2021, at 8 PM EST, the pre-taped concerns at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will be airing and streaming live via ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube, iHeartMedia radio stations, and the iHeartRadio App. Viewers from around the world get to watch performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, H.E.R., and J Balvin.

Global Citizen has developed a 90-minute virtual event that will also feature additional performances and appearances by NCT 127 and YouTube creators, including Kati Morton, ShootforLove, Daniel El Travieso, Thembe Mahlaba, and The Try Guys. The upcoming event will be hosted by actress and singer Selena Gomez.

“As a global community, we are in a race against time, and the key to coming back together is the vaccine. We need to build vaccine confidence in the U.S. and globally, and encourage people to take the vaccine as quickly as possible,” explains Hugh Evans, Global Citizen Co-Founder and CEO.

“There is a light at the end of this tunnel, but getting vaccines to everyone, everywhere regardless of who they are or where they are from, is key to ensuring the end of this pandemic around the world. We must all unite to get back on track to eradicating extreme poverty,” he adds.

VAX LIVE is made possible through the support of various world organizations and world leaders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Prime Minister of Italy and G20 Chair Mario Draghi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, and the State of California.

“The World Health Organization is pleased to be partnering with Global Citizens in the fight against COVID-19,” reveals Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Throughout the response to the pandemic, we have been grateful for the efforts and commitment shown by global citizens, health advocates, and changemakers around the world to advocate for vaccine equity to protect the most vulnerable people, everywhere. WHO will continue to work closely with all nations and partners to help manage potential risks and use science and data to drive a targeted global response.”

Global Citizen, through VAX LIVE, is raising support for Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator initiative – to include COVAX – a WHO-led vaccine-sharing program that aims to make sure that poor countries can have access to COVID-19 vaccines. The virtual concert aims to call on governments and philanthropists around the world to pledge a total amount of $22.1 billion. This is the outstanding balance needed by the ACT-Accelerator in order to get two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments to the world’s poorest countries by the end of this year.

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