To inspire vaccine confidence worldwide and help get COVID-19 vaccines to everyone, international advocacy organization Global Citizen has announced VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World on May 8 hosted by Selena Gomez.
“I’m honored to be hosting VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World. This is a historic moment to encourage people around the world to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them, call on world leaders to share vaccine doses equitably, and to bring people together for a night of music in a way that hasn’t felt possible in the past year. I can’t wait to be a part of it,” said Gomez in a press statement.
Global Citizen and digital activism
Global Citizen, a global movement that encourages digital activism in the fight against poverty, is the same organization that collaborated with Lady Gaga last year for the One World: Together at Home global broadcasting and digital event.
“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 US and globally, and encourage people to take the vaccine as quickly as possible. 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,” said Global Citizen Co-Founder and CEO Hugh Evans.
During VAX LIVE, Global Citizen will call on philanthropists and corporations to donate enough “dollars-for-doses” to vaccinate more than 27 million heroic health workers that are serving on the global frontlines in the world’s poorest countries every day. The special will also encourage global development advocates and changemakers to call on world leaders to prioritize the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for everyone, everywhere.
Who will join Selena Gomez?
VAX LIVE will be pre-taped at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Airing and live streaming on May 8 on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio app, VAX LIVE will start at 8 PM ET. The concert will also air on FOX at 11 PM ET.
With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Italy and G20 Chair Mario Draghi, and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, and the State of California, the special, hosted by multi-platinum recording artist, actress and producer Selena Gomez, will include a night of musical performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin, and H.E.R.
As the exclusive global streaming partner, YouTube will stream an extended version of VAX LIVE on the Global Citizen channel for a full run-time of 90 minutes, which will include additional performances and appearances by NCT 127 and YouTube creators Daniel El Travieso, Kati Morton, ShootforLove, Thembe Mahlaba, and The Try Guys.
VAX LIVE and WHO
As part of VAX LIVE, Global Citizen is campaigning to support the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator initiative – including COVAX – a vaccine-sharing program co-led by WHO, to ensure that low-income countries can access COVID-19 vaccines. VAX LIVE aims to inspire Global Citizens to call on governments, asking them to pledge US$22.1 billion, the outstanding balance needed by the ACT-Accelerator to get two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, tests, and treatments to the world’s poorest countries by the end of 2021.
“The World Health Organization is pleased to be partnering with Global Citizen in the fight against COVID-19. Throughout the response to the pandemic, we have been grateful for the efforts and commitment shown by global citizens, health advocates, and change makers 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,” said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Meanwhile, Global Citizen has also announced the launch of VAX BECAUSE to drive candid conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic, provide people with ranging perspectives about vaccine confidence, and arm people with facts about personal health and immunization options.
VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World is part of Global Citizen’s overall 2021 Recovery Plan for the World, a yearlong campaign and series of events that aims to help end COVID-19 for all, end the hunger crisis, resume learning everywhere, protect the planet, and advance equity for all.
