It was the scenario the global public health community dreaded for decades. A deadly virus emerges and spreads rapidly around the world.
More than 102mn people have been affected by Covid-19 globally and 2.2mn have already died.
Covid-19 infects people when they come together, but coming together is also how we will beat it. 2020 saw the world unite against the virus, from small personal gestures to protect others, to international collaboration on research and innovation.
The year has ended with Covid-19 vaccines rolling out – an extraordinary feat by any yardstick!
But as we are in the New Year and the world expectantly awaits wider rollout of safe and effective vaccines, it is essential that we design equitable, global distribution mechanisms that include the vulnerable, keeping in mind that no country is safe until we all are.
All nations must come and work together to speed up the safe development and manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines, and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
This is the only way that we can prevent the legacy of the HIV/Aids epidemic from repeating itself.
A study has shown that if a vaccine is distributed exclusively to high-income countries first, the world will only avoid 33% of Covid-19 related deaths. But, if a vaccine is distributed to every country on the globe proportionally to those key populations, the world could avoid 61% of Covid-19 related deaths.
Late last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced its plan for global vaccine distribution. Three per cent of each country’s population would initially receive vaccines, with 20% being inoculated in subsequent phases. Although debates on the finer points of a “fair and equitable” distribution continue, more than 170 countries are now in talks to be part of the WHO’s programme.
But there is much more to do in 2021. The pandemic still rages in large parts of the world.
One of the biggest challenges in the fight against Covid-19 is that massive funding gaps still exist.
Addressing the financing gap to provide Covid-19 vaccines for everyone, everywhere, is an urgent priority, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said recently, in an appeal for stepped-up funding to support poorer countries.
The international community has established a mechanism, known as the ‘COVAX’ Facility, aimed at ensuring all countries will have equal access to any vaccines, once developed. Nearly 190 countries are participating, and the goal is to deliver 2bn doses by 2021-end.
Tedros said there is an immediate funding gap of $4.3bn to procure vaccines for the most needy countries.
“I urge donors to fill this gap quickly so that vaccines can be secured, lives can be saved and a truly global economic recovery is accelerated”, Ghebreyesus said.
Can we fairly distribute a Covid-19 vaccine amid reports of fierce competition among procuring countries?
Although a better distribution plan or a more heartfelt appeal to assist others might help, driving home the message that the world is in this together would engage with our instinct to help fellow human beings.
If we think globally, fairness will follow.