COVID-19 Vaccine Initiative May Favor Rich Countries

WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A global COVID-19 vaccine initiative has been formed with the objective of ensuring fair distribution of vaccines worldwide, but it may benefit rich countries more than poor nations.

The vaccines alliance Gavi said Wednesday that 75 wealthy nations have said they would join the initiative, along with 90 low-income countries that hope to receive donated vaccines, the Associated Press reported.

When it sought donor nations last month, Gavi told them that if it develops an effective COVID-19 vaccine, all member nations will receive enough to cover 20 percent of their populations, including rich countries that may have their own stockpiles of other vaccines.

Gavi said countries would be encouraged, but not required, to give up any doses they might not need. That may mean that rich countries could stockpile COVID-19 vaccines, while fewer doses would be available for low-income countries, the AP reported.

AP News Article