Tackling coronavirus (COVID‑19)

Getting it right and emerging stronger

Green recoverySpotlight on vaccinesEditors' picksPolicy responsesInclusive recoveryClimate actionMore resources
Green recoverySpotlight on vaccinesEditors' picksPolicy responsesInclusive recoveryClimate actionMore resources
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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

Green recovery

How sustainable will our recovery be?

USD 336 billion has so far been allocated to environmentally positive measures within COVID-19 recovery packages.

But is this enough to have the transformational effects needed to address environmental crises while building back the economy? Not really.

Find out more about green recovery measures

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 must dare to address.

A global economic recovery is in sight. For it to succeed, we need faster, more effective vaccination rollout across the world.

Unprecedented investment and R&D have led to the rollout of several vaccines in under a year – an extraordinary achievement.

Now, their production, delivery and administration pose significant logistical challenges. The path from the lab to distribution around the world is complex.

Ensuring the fair distribution of vaccines among and within countries is vital. A failure to do so will mean even deeper economic and social scars.

Providing accurate information about vaccines is also crucial – fake news and rumours have the power to exacerbate citizens’ concerns and can undermine the enormous efforts of health professionals.

Tackling COVID-19 can only be achieved through robust international co-operation and partnerships. We must work together to end the pandemic and build an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

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The vital importance of trade

Without trade, there is no vaccine. Many countries are involved in the production and distribution of vaccines, which includes many components ranging from preservatives, vials and syringes to needles, cold boxes and freezers.

Keeping markets open – whether by reducing tariffs, streamlining trade-related processes or ensuring better logistics co-ordination – is vital for a successful vaccine rollout.

> Learn more | View full story | Download the infographics

Why vaccine co-operation matters

A to-do list

Defeating COVID-19 will only be achieved if countries continue to work in partnership in the development, distribution and uptake of vaccines to achieve worldwide immunity. They must:

  • 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 health issues.

  • Increase supply of vaccines: Massively scale up manufacturing capacities, for vaccines and for ancillary products. Enable wider production of already authorised vaccines by sharing IP and technological transfer.

  • Anticipate potential future bottlenecks at the “delivery to patient” level: Provide more personnel and infrastructure for vaccine delivery and administration. Ensure logistical 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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Building trustSupporting tradeEnsuring equity

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

Scaling up policies that connect people with jobs in the recovery from COVID-19

Active labour market policies (ALMPs) that connect people to jobs will help to ensure an equitable and sustained recovery from the COVID‑19 crisis. Already in 2020, many governments reacted swiftly to the crisis by increasing funding for their public employment services (PES), training programmes and measures to increase labour demand.

29/04/2021
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Risks that matter 2020: The long reach of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a global health tragedy. Yet as the world inches towards the end of the health crisis, another injury threatens to leave a more enduring scar: that of entrenched economic insecurity. The 2020 round of the OECD Risks that Matter survey presents a stark picture of economic disruption and rising worries about health and financial security across 25 OECD countries.

28/04/2021
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Tax Administration: Digital Resilience in the COVID-19 Environment

This note is intended to provide a status/pulse check on the impact of the digitalisation of tax administration in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, with a particular focus on taxpayer services, compliance risk management, remote working, IT systems and providing support for wider government.

21/04/2021
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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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#ClimateAction

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the inter-relationships between the environment and our livelihoods. Climate change is our next big challenge, and it’s around the corner. Achieving net-zero emissions requires rapid economic, social and technological transformations. Many countries are taking action, but progress is insufficient to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

View the climate lectureExplore climate data

Resources

Photo credits ©: Shutterstock; Crowd of people, blvdone/Shutterstock ; Dolores Park, Josh Edelson/AFP.
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