A step backwards in the fight against global vaccine inequities

Allocating COVID-19 Vaccines Globally: An Urgent Need

“…Despite the lack of manufacturing capacity by approved producers to meet the global need for COVID-19 vaccines, high-income countries, including the US, European Union, Switzerland, and Japan, have teamed up to reject a proposal to the World Trade Organization by South Africa, Kenya, India, and Eswatini to allow low-income countries to produce these vaccines. 1 The synthetic manufacture of RNA and its ease of production allows new vaccines to be produced up to 10 times faster than conventional vaccine production technologies and uses considerably less resources, space, and capital investment, making vaccine production easier and thus feasible in less wealthy nations. 2 Owing to the current approach of wealthy countries, however, the vast majority of the global population may wait 2 years or longer before reaching an acceptable level of COVID-19 vaccine coverage.…”

Global mental health: the role of collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…At this time, the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on GMH research processes are unknown. We anticipate that worldwide recovery from the pandemic will be longstanding; for example, it is already clear that inequities in accessing vaccines will impact our global partners over several years (Aryeetey et al, 2021). In light of collaboration's key role in maintaining resilience and ensuring cultural relevance, we call for the GMH community to recommit to the importance of long-standing, effective international partnerships.…”

Global Social Policy Digest 21.2: Turning the tide in the battle against COVID-19?

“…63 Thus, as critics comment, rejecting the waiver proposal is tantamount to perpetuating inequities in COVID-19 vaccination by continuing to allow high-income countries to hold an 'unreasonably large share of the global production capacity'. 64 The TRIPS waiver proposal has also generated intense debate in the general public, culminating in a petition to WTO Member States in January 2021 demanding implementation of the proposal, with the support of nearly 1 million signatures. 65 Moreover, COVID-19 continues to disrupt access to formerly routine health services.…”