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Last week’s EU COVID vaccine meltdown is politically understandable. But it’s also a diversion from the big picture. Pre-orders have put rich countries at the front of the queue, but COVAX only promises vaccines for 20% of Africans by the end of this year https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00013-6/fulltext
As the WHO has said, vaccine nationalism will slow the response, and a two-tier vaccination will create a two-speed recovery. An equitable roll out is both the smart thing to do, and the right thing to do https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082362
As part of the #PeoplesVaccine Alliance, @christian_aid is calling for a people’s vaccine, not a profit vaccine. Pfizer's $15bn COVID windfall shows why we need to pool know-how and IP to boost production. Governments must support the WHO’s CTAP
The global vaccine effort faces a $27bn funding gap. The poorest countries also need speedy regulatory approval. Governments with excess vaccines should follow Canada’s lead in sharing with countries at the back of the queue. https://www.economist.com/briefing/2021/01/09/the-great-task
The poorest countries face major obstacles to distribution, as well as acquisition. The debt crisis and austerity policies have crippled the health systems needed to deliver jabs. Current vaccine funding plans in Africa could pile up more unpayable debt https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa-vaccine-exc/exclusive-covid-19-shots-to-cost-3-to-10-under-african-union-vaccine-plan-idUSKBN29P0LL
Vaccine hesitancy shouldn’t be overstated. And it’s a bigger issue in rich countries than poor ones. Where it is a problem, faith actors can play a critical role in building confidence https://www.devex.com/news/4-out-of-5-africans-would-take-a-covid-19-vaccine-africa-cdc-survey-98812
Finally, as the world rolls out the COVID vaccine, it shouldn’t lose sight of the urgent need to get routine immunisation for childhood killers like measles back on track, after disruption caused by the the pandemic. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/humanitarian-crises-monitoring-coronavirus-developing-countries-secondary-impacts
