Why are 90% of people in poor nations likely to miss Covid-19 vaccines?

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Poor Nations Face Significant Vaccine Shortages Due to Hoarding by Wealthy Countries

Nine out of ten individuals in numerous impoverished nations are at risk of not receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in the upcoming year. This disparity arises because wealthy countries, representing only 14% of the global population, have secured 53% of the most promising vaccine doses. This situation has led to calls for pharmaceutical companies to share their technology and intellectual property to facilitate wider manufacturing and distribution.
Wealthy Nations Acquire the Majority of Promising Vaccines

As of last month, a significant portion of the available vaccine stock, specifically from manufacturers like Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, has been acquired by high-income countries. These nations have purchased enough doses to cover a much larger percentage of their populations than necessary, leaving fewer options for lower-income countries. For instance, Canada has reportedly bought enough vaccine doses to inoculate its population five times over.
Limited Access for Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries

The majority of people residing in 67 low and lower middle-income countries, including nations such as Bhutan, Ethiopia, and Haiti, are likely to be excluded from initial vaccination efforts. While AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford have committed to supplying 64% of their doses to developing nations, this allocation is projected to reach at most 18% of the global population by next year.
Calls for Equitable Distribution and Technology Sharing

Campaigners, including organizations like Oxfam and Amnesty International, argue that wealthy countries are in breach of their human rights obligations by hoarding vaccine supplies. They advocate for pharmaceutical companies to openly share their vaccine technology and intellectual property through the World Health Organisation (WHO). This open sharing is seen as a critical step to enable broader manufacturing and ensure more equitable access to vaccines worldwide, prioritizing lives and livelihoods over pharmaceutical profits during the pandemic.

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Why are 90% of people in poor nations likely to miss Covid-19 vaccines?

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