Vaccines against COVID-19 are unevenly distributed and the poorest countries have almost no access to them, said the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Gebreyesus. He warned that this could exacerbate global inequality and bring humanity to the brink of “catastrophic moral failure.”
“The price of this failure will be paid by the lives and livelihoods of the world’s poorest countries,” Gebreyesus said. He explained that “more than 39 million doses of the vaccine were distributed to at least 49 higher-income countries, and only 25 doses went to the lowest-income country.”
He noted that despite external support for equitable distribution of the vaccine, some countries and companies continue to prioritize bilateral deals, ignoring the course toward equitable access to vaccines for all segments of the population, raising prices and trying to “get in the front of the line.”
“There is enough vaccine for everyone. But right now, we must work together to prioritize the people most at risk of serious illness and death in all countries,” the WHO chief concluded.