The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide continue to explode. And, from the Middle East to Europe and the Americas, the death rate is alarming.

About 50,000 people have lost their lives to coronavirus in Iran.

In Europe countries like Italy that were hard hit early on are again battling a coronavirus surge.

But there is some good news. This week, the United Kingdom became the first Western country to approve a vaccine.

To discuss:

• Gloria Taliani, Member of the COVID-19 Task Force, Italy
• Chris Smith is a clinical lecturer in virology at the University of Cambridge.
• Sarbas Nazari, Freelance journalist based in Iran 
• Negar Mortazavi is an Iranian-American journalist and commentator

For More: 

“Because of US sanctions, some of our colleagues were not able to receive the influenza vaccine…

I hope the same thing doesn’t happen again when the coronavirus vaccine is developed and distributed” – Iranian nurse https://t.co/pKwJgDdZ7L

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) November 30, 2020

#Iran setting up ultra-cold storage facilities for #COVID19 vaccines: Officialhttps://t.co/Qj3iav1ndQ

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) December 2, 2020

The UK is the first country in the world to approve Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, and plans to begin distributing it next week https://t.co/aLgZcYu6YG

— CNN (@CNN) December 2, 2020

The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is on its way to the UK, but even after the first injection it will take 12 days before people start building immunity to the virushttps://t.co/pcI05EPpQt pic.twitter.com/HbVI3yIlkw

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 2, 2020

“The adrenaline we felt from the first wave has been replaced by exhaustion and anger.”

Italy’s doctors were praised for their COVID-19 response in the spring. Now they are burning out https://t.co/DsgDnGz0Ax

— TIME (@TIME) December 2, 2020