Prioritizing ‘equity’ in COVID-19 vaccine distribution through Global Health Diplomacy
Date
2021
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health Promotion Perspective
Abstract
With over 4 million deaths worldwide, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic is regarded as one of the worst pandemics in history. With its wider devastating
consequences, even so-called affluent countries could not provide full coverage for COVID-19
vaccines and medications to all of their citizens. Against this backdrop, the main aim of this
article is to examine how Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) can play a role in prioritizing
vaccine equity in the global health agenda in the fight against COVID-19. The majority of
developed countries’ healthcare systems have been exposed and have reached a tipping point.
After the completion of eighteen months of the pandemic, only five countries were able to
produce vaccines for the treatment of COVID-19. This pandemic has divided the world into
two blocs: those with vaccines, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China,
and India; and those without, such as the rest of the world. The greatest challenges are vaccine
inequalities, inequities and distribution, which undermine the global economic recovery. Many
poor countries are still waiting for the initial doses to be delivered to their citizens, while some
rich nations are planning for booster doses. GHD plays a critical role in establishing successful
global collaborations, funding mechanisms and ensuring international cooperation through
the combined efforts of all stakeholders. Besides, global solidarity is necessary to lessen the
wider gaps between the vaccination status of rich and poor nations. Therefore, through GHD,
the vaccine gaps and inequities can be addressed to strengthen global health security and
accelerate global economic recovery
Description
Table of Contents
Keywords
Equity, Vaccine, Health diplomacy, Global health, Pandemic, Social determinants