THE GLOBAL SCRAMBLE FOR COVID-19 VACCINES
Who will live; those with money or all of us?
The Covid-19 pandemic is raging in Europe and USA and infection rates have exceeded those seen during the first wave last winter and spring. Political leaders are under stress and are taking drastic steps to reduce transmission and minimize mortality and morbidity which has provoked riots in some countries. These countries are working feverishly to rapidly vaccinate the population with a view to reaching 70 – 80% of the vaccinated population which is needed achieve effective herd immunity which can enable return in these countries to normal social and economic life as well as save lives.
There is panic in some quarters resulting in decisions to grab all available COVID-19 vaccines including doses to be produced in the future. There was for example a highly publicized call this week that requires vaccine manufacturers not to export any vaccines without permission from political leaders. Vaccine nationalism has cropped up as new terminology. It is counterbalanced by regular calls from the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros, and some European leaders, championing humanity, equity, and solidarity to spare and avail some vaccines to LMICs who have no resources to develop and make vaccines for themselves. There is also the epidemiological argument that pockets of the virus anywhere is a threat to all countries and no country is safe until all countries are safe.