As rich countries hoard potential coronavirus vaccine doses, rest of world could go without
Source: Washington Post
As rich countries hoard potential coronavirus vaccine doses, rest of world could go without
By Emily Rauhala
11/2/2020, 5:30:00 p.m.
Rich countries have already snapped up billions of doses of potential coronavirus vaccines, potentially leaving poor countries without enough supply for years to come, a new study shows.
An analysis from researchers at Duke University’s Global Health Innovation Center, found that high- and middle-income countries have already purchased 3.8 billion doses, with options for 5 billion more.
As a result, relatively wealthy nations will likely be able to vaccinate their entire populations, with billions of others relegated to the back of the line. People in low-income countries could be waiting until 2024.
These deals between countries and drug manufacturers, known as advance purchase agreements, are undermining a World Health Organization-linked initiative to equitably distribute vaccines, the study suggests.
“Where we are headed is a situation where high-income countries have enough, and low-income countries just don’t,” said Andrea Taylor, the lead researcher.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/coronavirus-vaccine-doses-wealth-gap/2020/11/02/3cf7b078-1d1b-11eb-9ec3-3a81e23c4b5e_story.html
