The clinical trial results of several potential COVID-19 vaccines have shown promising results and are effective against the disease. This has given hope to countries around the world that it may finally be heading towards normalcy.
Pharmaceutical companies including Moderna and Pfizer have announced that their vaccine is around 95 percent effective and have applied for emergency authorization. Another produced by Oxford University has also shown similar results. None of these have been approved by regulators nor has price or distribution been determined but countries have already booked the vaccine in advance.
The United States has already booked 50 million doses for domestic consumption which will be produced in the first phase. The European Union also said it could approve emergency use of the vaccine in less than two months. The global coalition for coronavirus Covax has failed to ensure equal and equitable distribution of the vaccine and has a funding shortfall of $4.5 billion. This has been the message at the ongoing virtual G20 Summit but developed countries are more focused on themselves rather than vulnerable communities.
Pakistan has also approved $150 million as emergency funds for the COVID-19 vaccine and plans to vaccinate ten million people in the first phase focusing on healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines in the war against the virus and the elderly. However, the United States had refused to provide the vaccine in the first phase and Pakistan has directly approached the pharmaceutical companies. Pakistan was relying on the clinical test results of Chinese companies which have not been released.
The coronavirus has affected more than 55 million people and over a million have lost their lives. The world has been unable to come with a global solution and many countries will be left behind. Countries have already started purchasing in advance and 6.4 billion doses have already been bought. While this incentivizes development, it also means that those who can pay get to the front of the queue.
The World Health Organization has said while it understands that leaders want to protect their own citizens first, the response of the world must be collective. We are heading in a scenario where rich countries will have access and others will be left behind. Any vaccine should be available for all countries to ensure equitable access and end the pandemic.
