Coronavirus: unwilling to wait for UN programme, poorer countries are seeking their own vaccines
- Many poor countries are now taking matters into their own hands
- Experts are concerned that these go-it-alone efforts could undermine a UN-backed programme to get Covid-19 shots to the neediest people worldwide
With coronavirus cases still climbing, Honduras got tired of waiting to get vaccines through a United Nations programme, so the small Central American country struck out on its own, securing the shots through a private deal.
Honduras “cannot wait on bureaucratic processes or misguided decisions” to give citizens “the peace of mind” offered by the Covid-19 vaccine, said Juan Carlos Sikaffy, president of the Honduran Private Business Council, which helped complete the purchase by providing a bank guarantee.
Other nations are getting impatient too. Unlike past disease outbreaks, where less wealthy countries have generally waited for vaccines to be delivered by the UN and other organisations, many are now taking matters into their own hands. Experts are increasingly concerned that these go-it-alone efforts could undermine a UN-backed programme to get Covid-19 shots to the neediest people worldwide.
Countries including Serbia, Bangladesh and Mexico recently began vaccinating citizens through donations or commercial deals – an approach that could leave even fewer vaccines for the programme known as COVAX, since rich countries have already snapped up most this year’s supply.
Led by the World Health Organization, a coalition for epidemic preparedness known as CEPI and a vaccine alliance called GAVI, COVAX was created to distribute Covid-19 vaccines fairly. Countries can join either to buy vaccines or to get donated shots.