The Biden administration on Wednesday expressed support for the proposal to waive intellectual property protection for the Corona Virus Vaccines, paving the way for potentially tense talks at the World Trade Organization.
Those who support the move frame it as a step toward vaccinating the world, while vaccine makers argue that it will undermine innovation without helping supply issues in the near term.
Although the fate of the proposal remains uncertain, the need for some kind of work on vaccines is apparent to most people.
In 2021, the world split into “haves” and the “don’t have” vaccine, creating a gap that could define the next phase of the epidemic.
Using publicly available figures from Our World in Data, the Washington Post found that 45 percent of all vaccine doses administered so far have gone to just 16 percent of the world’s population in what the World Bank considers high-income countries.
During the summer and fall of last year, rich countries struck direct deals with vaccine makers, bought a disproportionate share of early doses – and undermined the WHO-supported effort, called Covax, to fairly distribute shots.
[Mapping the worldwide spread of the coronavirus]
Now, in a small number of relatively wealthy countries, including the United States, doses are relatively abundant and mass immunization campaigns are advancing rapidly. But many countries of the world are still struggling to secure adequate supplies. For many, herd immunity wears off several months – if not years – which could prolong the crisis.
A team at Duke University’s Global Health Innovation Center recently found that high-income countries lock up 53 percent of their vaccine supplies in the near term. They estimate that the world’s 92 poorest countries will not be able to reach a vaccination rate of 60 percent of their population until 2023 or later.
The front of the package
Israel It has so far vaccinated the largest number of people per capita. As of May 6, nearly 60 percent of Israelis have received at least one dose and 56 percent have been fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data. Although Israel was late in signing some countries’ vaccine agreements, it offered to do so Pay preferential rates And drug company grants Access his healthcare data. The country reportedly spent $ 788 million on coronavirus vaccines by March, particularly on a large shipment from Pfizer-BioNTech. RNA vaccine. While Israel was criticized for neglecting the Palestinian population in its midst, its vaccination campaign was considered a success, and it allowed a return to a more normal lifestyle, including the increased requirements for external masks.
[Israel’s ahead-of-the-world vaccine rollout offers hope for countries lagging behind]
Britain Another country is leading the way. Between developing, purchasing, and managing vaccines, the country will spend about $ 16 billion, according to A. Appreciation of the National Audit Office. To expand the supply as much as possible, Britain has chosen to take doses in space for several months, which means that while 52 percent of the country have had at least one injection, just over 23 percent have been fully vaccinated. The campaign faltered when there were apprehensions Rare blood clots In people receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine it has led the government to restrict its use to adults under the age of 30. However, early studies in Britain show Significant reduction in infection and hospitalization After the first dose of AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine. The country has slowly started to lift its lockdown.
United StateAfter experiencing one of the world’s deadliest outbreaks, it is now the envy of the world due to an abundance of vaccine supplies and a rapidly advancing vaccination campaign. The country has spent billions developing vaccines, deals and distributing them. About 45 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one dose and more than 23 percent of them have been fully vaccinated.
Since taking office, the Biden administration has faced calls to address inequality in vaccines, either by donating doses to other countries or boosting global supply by facilitating technology transfer around the world.
Late last month, as the coronavirus crisis in India intensified, the administration announced plans to share up to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca with countries in need once the federal safety review is conducted. Wednesday’s patent announcement may be a step toward oversupply, although many stress that a waiver alone is not enough.
[U.S. could have 300 million extra vaccine doses, raising concerns about hoarding]
Chile It is the last notable vaccine, although it has not yet escaped the grip of the pandemic. Chile moved quickly to secure a plethora of potential doses. It now tops the Western Hemisphere in per capita vaccinations, with about 43 percent of the population receiving a dose and more than 36. Percent fully vaccinated. At the same time, New cases of COVID-19 have risen recently Because of the new variants, the fatigue of closure and dependence on a Chinese vaccine It has proven less effective than Western offers.
HungaryAlso, it wagered on as many vaccines as possible, contrary to the European Union’s collective procurement efforts to conclude bilateral deals for Chinese and Russian-made vaccines. About 43 percent of people there have taken a dose, but the country is still experiencing a spring spurt in deaths.
both of them Canada And the European Union They have a lot more vaccinations than most countries of the world, but their vaccination campaigns are a source of great outrage Political reaction. Despite many pre-purchase agreements, Canada struggled to secure actual dosing and administer it smoothly, and it left Population boils Cases also escalate. Meanwhile, European officials have faced criticism for taking too long to negotiate deals, delaying the start of implementation and increasing the spring, motivated by change. The European Union is now speeding up the vaccination campaign and hopes to do so US match by July.
Stuck in the middle
Of the countries that the World Bank classifies as either lower or upper middle income, vaccination campaigns are mostly slow.
althoug Serbia – An upper-middle-income country that has concluded Chinese and Russian vaccine deals – has vaccinated nearly 29 percent of its entire population, and few others close.
BrazilFor example, a densely populated country with a higher average income is losing thousands of people every day to Coronavirus. Less than 15 percent of people there took a dose, and the nation’s outbreak fueled by the variable turns into Regional superspreader event.
Another troubling case is India, The leading manufacturer of coronavirus vaccines that is struggling to roll them out locally amid an outbreak Huge increase in cases. Less than 10 percent of the population took at least and only about 2 doses Per cent were fully vaccinated, our scientist estimates in the data.
[India’s devastating outbreak is driving the global coronavirus surge]
With supply shortages, China and Russia became involved Vaccine diplomacyOr donating doses or selling them to countries in need in an apparent effort to influence. PakistanFor example, he received doses of Chinese vaccine makers And the Russian Sputnik V vaccine is Sell ​​on Private market. To date, less than 1% of the population has been vaccinated.
Left behind
Vaccination campaigns have just started in many countries.
Covax, a WHO-supported dosing campaign, aims to provide enough for 20 percent of participating countries by the end of the year, but perhaps Struggling to achieve this goal. Although shipments have arrived in some countries, the number of doses and upcoming shipments is limited May be delayed.
Ghana Program received The first doses In February, for example, but like most lower middle income economies, it has much less than it needs. Less than 3 percent Of people received a dose, according to the estimate of Our World in Data released on May 6.
at NigeriaAs officials alike grapple with supply shortages Vaccine frequency, Less than 1 Percent of people took a dose.
A few countries, including Tanzania, They indicated they don’t need a vaccine – though It might change With the outbreak of the epidemic.
0 Comments