Vaccine inequities are hindering COVID-19 response

World leaders are warning that current vaccines could be useless if lower-income countries are not able to inoculate a majority of their population and stall progress in the fight against COVID-19.

Global leaders warned at a World Bank–IMF meeting that the lack of access to vaccines in the developing world and lowincome nations would not just exacerbate global financial and health inequalities but would hinder progress already made in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Months before the vaccines were made available to the general public, wealthier nations

were able to secure millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine — this has not been the case for the rest of the world. The United

States in mid-August was able to secure and preorder around 800 million doses of vaccines prior to development and the United

Kingdom was able to purchase around 340 million doses.

As of April, over 700 million doses have been distributed, but with most of those coming from North America and Europe.

"Since the pandemic started, the solidarity and national unity have been not as good as one would desire," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO directorgeneral said at the World Bank Group Spring meeting. "Sharing and supporting each other is not charity."

The lopsided distribution has been a cause for concern for global leaders as they try to expand distribution while aspiring to meet high demand, over

come logistical challenges and build trust with local communities. Some countries might have to wait months and even years before their entire population will be inoculated.

Global obligation

There are concerns that the wealthier nations have

An Afghan health worker receiving a dose of the Indian version of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine

A health worker administers a vaccine to a man inside his house in Anama, Brazil