The Struggle for Effective and Equal COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to poorer nations around the world is critical. To ensure equal access, the COVAX facility assembled during the pandemic as a global undertaking to reach those with the greatest need. It is comprised of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization. Several manufacturers and 190 donor countries are also part of the platform. The end goal? Provide 2 billion doses by the end of 2021 for high-risk populations (WHO, 2020). Yet even with this amazing network, a recent report shows that 90% of the COVID-19 vaccine purchases have gone to higher income countries, which comprise just 14% of the world’s total population. Poorer countries – mostly in Africa, Asia and South America – will at this rate vaccinate at most 20% of the population. Internal documents leaked to Reuters state that COVAX is having financial and supply issues and is struggling to obtain contractual agreements. If this continues, billions of people in poorer countries may not receive a vaccine until 2024 (Guarascio, 2020).