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COVID-19 vaccines

WHO Frustrated with Vaccine Distribution, Sees Catastrophic Moral Failure Looming

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the World Health Organization (WHO) is growing increasingly frustrated with the delay in vaccine distribution, particularly in poorer nations. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has accused drug manufacturers of prioritizing regulatory approval in rich countries, where profits are highest, over submitting full dossiers to the global health body for the sake of equitable access. This delay has opened the door for China to ramp up its vaccine diplomacy efforts, handing out millions of doses in Southeast Asia and securing a geopolitical win just before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who has vowed to rejoin the WHO.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WHO's struggles with vaccine distribution have led to a catastrophic moral failure, with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warning that the world is on the brink of disaster.
  • Drug manufacturers have prioritized regulatory approval in rich countries, where profits are highest, over submitting full dossiers to the WHO, potentially delaying distribution through Covax.
  • China has started to ramp up its vaccine diplomacy efforts, handing out millions of doses in Southeast Asia and securing a geopolitical win just before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
  • The US is preparing to join Covax and look at how it can help make sure the vaccine is equitably distributed, with Antony Blinken, Biden's pick for secretary of state, making a statement to lawmakers on Tuesday.
  • Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has reversed his stance on accepting only WHO-approved vaccines, opting to accept one million doses from China, citing widespread use in other countries.
  • Indonesia and Brazil have also begun distributing Sinovac Biotech Ltd. doses, despite inconsistent efficacy data, with Indonesian President Joko Widodo receiving the shot on live television.
  • The Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine, the only shot to receive emergency validation from the WHO since the outbreak, has been secured by richer nations, leaving low-income countries with limited access.
  • Covax plans to distribute 2 billion doses around the world by the end of this year, with enough to protect 3% of the population in all participating countries by July.

Statistics:

  • 85% of Pfizer's vaccine and all of Moderna Inc.'s vaccine have been secured by richer nations (Airfinity Ltd.)
  • 2 million doses have been bought by Thailand from Sinovac
  • 800,000 doses are to be donated by China to the Philippines and Myanmar
  • 2 billion doses are to be distributed by Covax by the end of this year
  • 3% of the population in all participating countries will be protected by July (Covax)

Sources:

  • WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Monday statement)
  • Sinovac Biotech Ltd. spokesman (statement)
  • Ian Storey, senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute (statement)
  • Antony Blinken, Biden's pick for secretary of state (statement to lawmakers)
  • Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (statement)
  • Indonesian President Joko Widodo (statement)
  • Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE (statement)
  • Moderna Inc. (statement)
  • Airfinity Ltd. (research report)
  • Covax (statement)
  • Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (statement)
  • Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (statement)
  • Paul Chambers, Naresuan University's Center of Asean Community Studies (research)

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