A plea for equitable global access to COVID‐19 diagnostics, vaccination and therapy: The NeuroCOVID‐19 Task Force of the European Academy of Neurology

Sellner, Johann; Jenkins, Thomas M.; von Oertzen, Tim J.; Bassetti, Claudio L.; Beghi, Ettore; Bereczki, Daniel; Bodini, Benedetta; Cavallieri, Francesco; Di Liberto, Giovanni; Helbok, Raimund; Macerollo, Antonella; Maia, Luis F.; Oreja‐Guevara, Celia; Özturk, Serefnur; Rakusa, Martin; Pisani, Antonio; Priori, Alberto; Sauerbier, Anna; Soffietti, Riccardo; Taba, Pille; Zedde, Marialuisa; Crean, Michael; Burlica, Anja; Twardzik, Alex; Moro, Elena

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), a multi‐organ disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), continues to challenge health and care systems around the globe. The pandemic has disrupted acute neurology services and routine patient care and has impacted the clinical course in patients with chronic neurological disease. COVID‐19 appears to have exposed inequalities of societies and healthcare systems and had a disproportionate impact on already vulnerable communities. The next challenge will be to set up initiatives to stop disparities in all aspects related to COVID‐19. From the medical perspective, there is a need to consider inequalities in prevention, treatment and long‐term consequences. Some of the issues of direct relevance to neurologists are summarised. With this appraisal, the European Academy of Neurology NeuroCOVID‐19 Task Force intends to raise awareness of the potential impact of COVID‐19 on inequalities in healthcare and calls for action to prevent disparity at individual, national and supranational levels.