Language
English
Publication Date
8-1-2024
Journal
The Linacre Quarterly
DOI
10.1177/00243639241245105
PMID
39104467
PMCID
PMC11298104
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
4-11-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
The central tenets of international scientific collaborations leading to the development, testing, and the equitable distribution vaccines to combat poliomyelitis, smallpox, COVID-19, and other devasting infections, first accelerated in the mid-twentieth century. The genesis of vaccine science diplomacy also coincides with the publication of Le Phénomène Humain (The Phenomenon of Man) shortly after the death of its author, the French Jesuit priest and scientist, Dr. Teilhard de Jardin. Several tenets of Teilhard's posthumous essay, including our collective consciousness, and the “conjugated faces” of science and religion, are relevant to a modern vaccine diplomacy framework, even if Teilhard may not have specifically addressed vaccines in his writings. This could also include the potential for arriving at an “omega point” through international scientific collaboration and joint vaccine development, while simultaneously avoiding the destructive forces of anti-vaccine or anti-science activism. Collaborations between the Vatican, Catholic research universities and institutions; and leaders of the Catholic-majority nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America in an integrated framework might accelerate these activities as they apply to both pandemic threats and neglected diseases of poverty.
Keywords
Bioethics, Conscience in medicine, Health policy, Moral exemplarism, Vaccines
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Peter Hotez, "Vaccine Science Diplomacy and "The Phenomenon of Man"" (2024). Faculty, Staff and Students Publications. 8083.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/8083