Welcome to Pandemica - a kind of pandemic purgatory where no one is sure how long they will be stuck there or if they can ever leave. Sound familiar?
Pandemica may not be a real place — but for billions of people, it’s a reality.
Data shows that the fastest way to end the COVID-19 pandemic is to ensure vaccines are available to everyone, everywhere. But, people living in poorer countries are being left behind. Without global access to vaccines, the pandemic will last longer and be twice as deadly.
“Pandemica” is a new animated content series from The ONE Campaign to raise awareness of the critical importance of getting vaccines to all countries as quickly as possible.
"Pandemica's animated world animates a simple truth – that where you live shouldn’t determine whether you get these life-saving shots,” said Bono, lead singer, U2 and co-founder of ONE and (RED). “Even while many of us still wait our turn, we need to commit to making sure that billions of people around the world aren’t left at the back of the line. It’s the right thing to do, obviously, but it’s also the only way out of this pandemic for all of us. If the vaccine isn’t everywhere, this pandemic isn’t going anywhere.”
Watch the first episode to explore just why Pandemica is truly the worst:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPHWZkphmLA
“We’re all trapped in Pandemica, but only some can get out. This virus thrives on inequality, and right now billions of people around the world are seeing the promise of a vaccine, but not the opportunity to receive it,” said David Oyelowo, actor and voice of the Mountaineer in Pandemica. “We must step up and do what it takes to end this pandemic for everyone, everywhere.”
What’s it like living in Pandemica?
Right now, less than 1% of doses administered globally have gone to people in low-income countries while a handful of wealthy countries have enough vaccines to inoculate their entire populations and still have more than 1 billion doses left over.
Gayle Smith, President and CEO of ONE, says, “This virus has waged war on the world, and we need to fight back with all we’ve got. Vaccine access isn’t just about what’s fair, it’s also about what’s smart – we can’t end a global pandemic until we stop the virus from spreading and mutating everywhere.”
How do we avoid Pandemica?
We all desperately want to get back to some kind of normal life, but ultimately vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic and drag down the global economy for everyone. We need a global plan to distribute vaccines because the pandemic will only end when the people who need the vaccine the most have access to it, regardless of where they live.
“Pandemica is a compelling illustration of the inequality around the world,” said Penélope Cruz, who lends her voice in the series. “I hope that everyone who watches this series will use their voice and take action to ensure that no one gets left behind.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnOXp9ZKp2A&list=PL6LFs_QnWsysuqybgKcyjVuKAQ02awjru&index=2
You can take action by signing a petition calling on the handful of rich countries that have bought up enough COVID-19 vaccine doses to vaccinate their entire populations almost three times over to share their surplus doses so that vulnerable people, wherever they live, are protected.
The episodes feature voiceovers from Bono, Penélope Cruz, Danai Gurira, David Oyelowo - as well as two Belgians, Déborah François and Virgine Efira in the French version. Pandemica is illustrated by artist Andrew Rae with animation by Titmouse and music & sound design by father, and created and produced in partnership with hive.
Episodes can be found in ONE Campaign’s YouTube channel subtitled or translated into French, German, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, and Pidgin English.
To watch the Pandemica series, go to www.one.org/pandemica
