The Politics of Vaccinations
Source: Reuters
There is no question that COVID-19 has exposed societal inequities that were previously shrouded from public view. This pandemic has been anything but equal, as the greatest economic burden and highest infection rates were borne by the world’s most marginalized and impoverished. For many, the promise and hope for a vaccine have felt like the light at the end of a dark tunnel. But even in the rollout of vaccine distribution, concerns for inequalities remain.
The United States
Let’s start by taking a look at COVID in the United States. This pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged communities. Black, Native American, and Latinx populations are almost 3X as likely to die from COVID as their white counterparts. According to CDC this is likely because of socioeconomic status, access to health care, and exposure to the virus related to occupation (frontline workers). So if we are seeing that certain groups have higher chances of contracting and dying from the virus, wouldn’t it make sense to vaccinate those groups first?
Unfortunately, vaccine distribution does not seem to be working that way. Early data is showing that people of color are being vaccinated at lower rates than white Americans. Furthermore, essential workers in high-contact jobs such as grocery store clerks and food service workers are often at the bottom of vaccine priority lists. States are developing and implementing their own regulations for who gets vaccinated first.
One problem that this points to is a lack of standardization and organization. The U.S. had set its goal to distribute 20 million vaccinations by December. It only reached 5 million. The Trump administration left much of the logistics of vaccinations to local and state governments. Vaccination priorities varied from state to state. States like California, that placed a greater emphasis on age, are finding that their policy ignores the ableism this might present for immunocompromised younger individuals.
Additionally, getting the vaccines from vials into the arms of Americans is more complicated than some first assumed. Whether it's malfunctioning freezers, staffing shortages, or miscommunications between suppliers and facilities, many vaccines are going to waste because they expire before they are used. It is estimated that thousands of vaccines are being thrown away everyday due to confusing regulations and expiration. This is a supply chain nightmare with grave consequences.
As it stands, the U.S. is now facing a vaccine shortage. The Biden administration is attempting to nationalize the distribution effort, but so far little progress has been made. We are approaching a global pandemic with state-by-state policy that has clearly failed most Americans.
Around the world
Source: Nature
On a global scale, vaccine distribution has been wildly unequal. The wealthiest nations have more vaccines than citizens, while the poorest nations have administered none of the mainstream vaccines.
Most of the low and middle income countries are reliant on the World Health Organization’s COVAX program for vaccine distribution. WHO is advocating for equitable distribution of COVID relief, testing, and vaccinations through their Access to Covid Tools Accelerator (ACTS) program. But they are facing a $28.2 billion dollar funding gap and seeking donations from the world’s wealthiest countries.
Consider how difficult it has been for the U.S. to properly distribute vaccines. Many countries do not have the infrastructure or supply chain to handle this task.
The role of private corporations
“Who owns the patent?” Dr. Salk, the inventor of the Polio vaccine was asked this question in 1955. “The people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?” he responded.
In 2021, the makers of the COVID vaccine have a very different answer. Companies like Pfiezer and Moderna have patents on their version of the vaccine, meaning that they profit from the distribution of it. They have incentives to keep the price of the vaccine above the affordability level of low and middle income countries.
But the research for this vaccine has been overwhelmingly funded by governments and taxpayer dollars. A key portion of the science behind it came from the U.S. military. So why should governments pay private corporations for necessary vaccines that were publicly funded?
In order to beat this virus in an equitable way, corporations will need to put aside their profit motivations. Especially considering the high level of wealth pharmaceutical companies already have amassed. The greater good is at stake.
The Bottom Line
We need a holistic and human-centered approach. We cannot keep pretending that COVID is an individual issue. None of us can face this alone-- as an individual person, single household, sole state, or lone country. COVID19 is a global pandemic. No one should be overlooked when it comes to life-saving medicine.
Other Sources
Covid world map: which countries have the most coronavirus vaccinations, cases and deaths?
The Covid Vaccine Will Benefit Humanity -- We Should All Own the Patent
Africa’s Long Wait For the Covid Vaccine
Frontline Workers and People Over 74 Should Get Shots Next, C.D.C. Panel Says