As rich countries hoard potential coronavirus vaccine doses, rest of world could go without

[Eugene]

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

[RainCaster]

1. The world won't be a safe place until all have the vaccine

Truly, the distribution must be carefully planned and the richer countries will need to help fund the world wide distribution.
These smaller countries will be emigrating, and they are destinations for wealthy travelers to take eco-vacations.