Today, Explained Vaccine hoarding
Feb 10, 2021
Julia Belluz, Senior Health Correspondent at Vox, dives into the stark inequalities in COVID-19 vaccine distribution. She highlights that less than 1% of vaccines reached poorer countries, calling this a "catastrophic moral failure." The discussion unveils the ethical implications of vaccine nationalism and the impact of bilateral deals favoring rich nations. Belluz also emphasizes the challenges faced by initiatives like COVAX and the urgent need for a more equitable approach to ensure global vaccine access.
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Vaccine Disparity
- Rich countries have received 150 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- Poor countries have received less than 1%, around 150,000 doses.
Low-Income Vaccine Rollouts
- Only two low-income countries, Nepal and Guinea, have received vaccines.
- Nepal's campaign started with donations from India, while Guinea's was experimental.
Vaccine Hoarding
- Rich countries pre-purchased vaccine supplies, creating global scarcity.
- Many overbought, like the US and Canada, leading to a massive disparity.