Covid-19 ‘Survivors’ Guilt’ Haunting African Researcher in the US

In this personal essay, “Covid-19 ‘Survivors’ Guilt’ Haunting African Researcher in the US,” Maji Hailemariam Debena, a Mental Health Epidemiologist at Michigan State University, brings attention to the stark healthcare disparities and vaccine access inequalities between under-vaccinated African countries and high-income nations like the US. While millions of vaccine doses were wasted in the US, Debena’s father-in-law in South Africa tragically died from COVID-19 while awaiting his shots. Driven by her “survivor’s guilt,” Debena advocates for addressing this global inequality, recognizing the interconnectedness of our world. She observes that actions like questioning the need for vaccine patent waivers perpetuate vaccine inequities, leading to more preventable deaths. This survivor’s guilt emphasizes the persistent global disparities that surface during crises like the pandemic, despite calls for solidarity and the belief that the virus serves as a social equalizer. Debena yearns for a future where geography no longer determines one’s fate.