Tackling coronavirus (COVID‑19)

What are the impacts and consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on our lives and our societies? And what are some of the solutions we can find to boost our healthcare systems, secure our businesses, maintain our jobs and education, and stabilise financial markets and economies? The OECD is compiling data, analysis and recommendations on a range of topics to address the emerging health, economic and societal crisis, facilitate co-ordination, and contribute to the necessary global action when confronting this enormous collective challenge.
Latest highlightsSpotlight on vaccinesPolicy responsesInclusive recoveryGreen recoveryMore
Latest highlightsSpotlight on vaccinesPolicy responsesInclusive recoveryGreen recoveryMore
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DATA INSIGHTSPolicy responses Country Policy TrackerFocus on an inclusive recoveryFocus on green recoveryFocus on social challengesFocus on the global economyFocus on resilient healthcare

Spotlight

The race to vaccinate

Imagine a future where everyone has been inoculated against COVID-19.

This is the horizon we are all looking towards, but before this becomes a reality, there are many challenges we will need to address together.

We have dared to undertake unprecedented international investment and R&D, leading to the rollout of highly effective COVID-19 vaccines in under a year – already an extraordinary achievement.

Now, the production, delivery and administration of COVID-19 vaccines poses significant logistical challenges. The path from a vaccine’s development in a lab to its distribution around the world is complex and involves many actors. We will need to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines among and within countries. Failing to do so will imperil the global inoculation drive, resulting in further delays to the lifting of mobility restrictions and even deeper economic and social scarring.

Since the beginning of this race, disinformation and rumours about vaccines have represented major threats with the power to exacerbate citizens’ concerns and undermine immunisation campaigns.

Eradicating COVID-19 is vital to putting the world back on a sound economic footing – and this can only be done with robust international co-operation and partnerships. Let’s work together to build an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

Vaccinating the world: An unprecedented logistical challenge

Vaccine co-operation must continue

A to-do list

If we are to reach a future where everyone is protected against COVID-19, then countries must continue to co-operate in the development, distribution and uptake of vaccines.

This is what we must do:

  • Ensure transparent and timely communication on vaccines and immunisation campaigns: Address public concerns and rumours about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Invest in education as it plays a key role in helping people understand what evidence to trust. Build partnerships across sectors of society to tackle mis-/disinformation on public

  • Increase supply of vaccines: Massively scale up manufacturing capacities, for vaccines and for ancillary products. Enable wider production of already authorized

  • Anticipate potential future bottlenecks at the “delivery to patient” level: Provide more personnel and infrastructure for vaccine delivery and administration. Ensure logistic support for warehousing and distribution in order to avoid waste.

  • Make distribution both equitable and strategic: Make vaccination programmes that interrupt the spread of new variants the highest priority. Get vaccines to the most vulnerable people, especially in the hardest hit countries and regions. Increase overall vaccine supply to low and middle income countries, through more investment in COVAX and through sharing of excess doses as available.

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OECD policy responses

This new series brings together data, analysis and recommendations on a range of topics to address the emerging health, economic and societal crisis. These responses provide guidance on the short-term measures needed in affected sectors, with a specific focus on the vulnerable sectors of society and the economy. Beyond immediate responses, they also aim to provide analysis on the longer-term consequences and impacts of COVID-19, paving the way to recovery with co-ordinated policy responses across countries.

See all policy responses

COVID-19 and a new resilient infrastructure landscape

With the pandemic as a backdrop, this note provides a selected, high-level picture of resilience in infrastructure. Dimensions of resilience are explored across the project life-cycle, from planning and designing, to construction, operations, and decommissioning. This builds an understanding of how infrastructure is interconnected and contributes more broadly to resilient communities, particularly in light of the impacts of COVID-19.

22/02/2021
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Business dynamism during the COVID-19 pandemic: Which policies for an inclusive recovery?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had large impacts on business dynamism. Firm entry has rebounded after the drop experienced during the first lockdowns of early 2020. Yet, the recovery in entry rates is highly heterogeneous across countries, with possible long-term implications for employment and output growth.

18/02/2021
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COVID-19 and greening the economies of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia

As in many countries, the economies of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) have been negatively affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Their governments responded by addressing the health impacts and providing relief to affected businesses and workers. Many EECCA countries have also implemented measures that will help advance environmental objectives as part of their rescue and recovery plans.

17/02/2021
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Inclusive recovery

The crisis unleashed by COVID-19 is affecting every aspect of our lives, from health, jobs and education, to financial security, social relations and trust.

Poverty is rising, and people everywhere are worried about the future. The crisis has heightened social pressures and increased the inequalities that existed before COVID-19. Now is the time to intensify efforts to address these challenges.

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Green recovery

Cleaner air quality, healthier water, effective waste management, and enhanced biodiversity protection not only reduce the vulnerability of communities to pandemics and improve resilience, but have the potential to boost economic activity and reduce inequalities.

Green recovery is a win-win strategy and governments have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure a sustainable recovery.

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Photo credits ©: Top banner: Shutterstock: Alessia Pierdomenico; Key areas of focus left to right: Shutterstock: ALFImedia / Studio Romantic / Marmolejos / Nate Hovee.
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