Distribution of
COVID-19
2/13/2023
vaccines
, Stage I – Introduction
December 2019 – the first case of COVID-19 was found in Wuhan, South-Central China.
Since the outbreak, the virus has become a major public health concern (Mohamadian et al.,
2021). The virus has infected millions of people and caused numerous of deaths worldwide
(Rahman et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic will only subside through the distribution of
an efficacious vaccine (Kumar et al. 2021). However, ensuring equitable distribution to
everyone, worldwide, is a big challenge (Tregoning et al, 2021).
15 July 2020 – Seventy-five countries expressed interest in protecting their
populations and the populations of other nations by joining the COVAX Facility (WHO,
2020). Together with the 90 lower-income countries who are supported through the Advance
Market Commitment (AMC), this group of 165 countries represents more than 60% of the
entire world’s population. This institute guarantees rapid, fair, and equitable access to the
COVID-19 vaccines internationally (WHO, 2020). COVAX was introduced in April 2020 by
the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic preparedness innovation, and the
Vaccine Alliance (WHO, 2020). It promotes access to vaccinations worldwide, including
poor countries in the world.
This idea seemed perfect, but a bit too good to be true. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the
Cepi, feared nationalism, self-interest, unequal access to limited supply. This soon scarred the
idealistic façade of COVAX (Ducharme, 2021). Wealthy countries made deals with
pharmaceuticals, and vaccine producers and bought up the limited supply. An equal
distribution is no longer the case. The distribution of the vaccines was mostly driven by
money.
Two years after the start of the pandemic, in the year 2022, most European countries,
Canada, the United States of America and Israel have a vaccination rate of 80 percent or
higher. They even injected three or four doses to most people of their population. Meanwhile,
only 23 percent of people in low-income countries, as African, Asian, and South American
countries, have received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (Wolf, 2022). It still
seems that countries do not see this as a global problem and the solidarity to these “poorer”
countries are limited (Gilbert, 2022). This raises the question of how to achieve justice
worldwide and recognition of the medical needs of these populations.
From my point of view, the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines is not fair or just.
However, achieving an equal distribution is a significant challenge. Vaccines are expensive
and every institution wants what is best for their population. Still, only treating your own
COVID-19
2/13/2023
vaccines
, Stage I – Introduction
December 2019 – the first case of COVID-19 was found in Wuhan, South-Central China.
Since the outbreak, the virus has become a major public health concern (Mohamadian et al.,
2021). The virus has infected millions of people and caused numerous of deaths worldwide
(Rahman et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic will only subside through the distribution of
an efficacious vaccine (Kumar et al. 2021). However, ensuring equitable distribution to
everyone, worldwide, is a big challenge (Tregoning et al, 2021).
15 July 2020 – Seventy-five countries expressed interest in protecting their
populations and the populations of other nations by joining the COVAX Facility (WHO,
2020). Together with the 90 lower-income countries who are supported through the Advance
Market Commitment (AMC), this group of 165 countries represents more than 60% of the
entire world’s population. This institute guarantees rapid, fair, and equitable access to the
COVID-19 vaccines internationally (WHO, 2020). COVAX was introduced in April 2020 by
the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic preparedness innovation, and the
Vaccine Alliance (WHO, 2020). It promotes access to vaccinations worldwide, including
poor countries in the world.
This idea seemed perfect, but a bit too good to be true. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the
Cepi, feared nationalism, self-interest, unequal access to limited supply. This soon scarred the
idealistic façade of COVAX (Ducharme, 2021). Wealthy countries made deals with
pharmaceuticals, and vaccine producers and bought up the limited supply. An equal
distribution is no longer the case. The distribution of the vaccines was mostly driven by
money.
Two years after the start of the pandemic, in the year 2022, most European countries,
Canada, the United States of America and Israel have a vaccination rate of 80 percent or
higher. They even injected three or four doses to most people of their population. Meanwhile,
only 23 percent of people in low-income countries, as African, Asian, and South American
countries, have received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (Wolf, 2022). It still
seems that countries do not see this as a global problem and the solidarity to these “poorer”
countries are limited (Gilbert, 2022). This raises the question of how to achieve justice
worldwide and recognition of the medical needs of these populations.
From my point of view, the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines is not fair or just.
However, achieving an equal distribution is a significant challenge. Vaccines are expensive
and every institution wants what is best for their population. Still, only treating your own
