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COVID vaccine, accessibility, affordability & equity

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Bhumika KC
Pharmacist, Content Management and Marketing

After nearly two decades of big pharma companies filing a lawsuit against South African government that imported cheaper generic versions of antiretroviral drugs when the country was devastated by HIV-AIDs epidemic (1), the exclusivity of the rights of life-saving drugs still continues to hover over the lives of millions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the underdeveloped and developing countries.

A proposal put forward by a group of developing countries led by South Africa and India in World Trade Organization to temporarily suspend the patent on medical products to control COVID-19 pandemic was opposed by developed countries like UK and Canada, home to big pharmaceuticals, on account of big loss that could happen to the companies involved in research and innovation if the patent was suspended.

What’s the current scenario of the COVID-19 vaccine?

A recent data by Oxfam has shown that 9 out of 10 people in poorer countries will not have access to the vaccine, as wealthier countries continue to hoard on billions of doses of vaccines enough to vaccinate their population several times over.

At present there are more than 10 candidates of vaccines in Phase 3 trial (2). Two of them by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNtech have had their efficacy announced. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has already received approval in the UK and vaccinations have been started. Moderna has recieved approval in the US.

11.6 billion doses of vaccines are already reserved by countries like the USA, Canada, UK etc. even before approval (2) . It is stated that 53% of the vaccines have already been pre-purchased by the wealthier countries that account for only 14% of the world population (2). Canada, for example, has purchased enough vaccines to vaccinate its entire population over 5 times (2).

“11.6 billion doses of vaccines are already reserved by countries like the USA, Canada, UK etc. even before approval. It is stated that 53% of the vaccines have already been pre-purchased by the wealthier countries that account for only 14% of the world population.”

Where does this leave poor/underdeveloped/developing countries?

Middle-income countries like India with a large manufacturing and clinical testing capacities, however, have negotiated deals to secure the doses. But, countries with no manufacturing and clinical testing capacities, like Nepal, will be left out.

In the current scenario, it is estimated that only 44% of total Nepal’s population will have the access to the vaccine (2). The rising political crisis in the country further puts this figure at stake.

All this raises a serious question on the equitable global allotment of the vaccines. A country’s economic status and purchasing power should not be the determining factor in one’s basic right to access to health.

“In the current scenario, it is estimated that only 44% of total of Nepal’s population will have the access to the vaccine. (Launch and Scale Speedometer, Covid-19).”

What is being done?

Moderna is one such firm which has vowed to not patent its experimental COVID-19 vaccine while the pandemic continues. While Oxford/Astrazeneca has made a pledge to provide 64% of their doses to the developing nations (3). But the deals have only been made with big developing nations such as India, China leaving out most of the developing nations. Despite these efforts, it is estimated that only 18% of the world population will have the access to the vaccine with their capacity (3).

A global campaign, COVAX by WHO, the European Commission and France in response to this pandemic has been going on, which is working for equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines all around the globe. Deals are being negotiated with high-income countries to share the vaccines through COVAX facility once a certain percentage of their population have been vaccinated and funding for low/middle-income countries which cannot finance themselves are being raised.

Conclusion

Sharing intellectual property (IP), technologies and data could be one huge step forward towards equitable allotment of the vaccines. This would allow the developing countries with manufacturing capacities to produce vaccines in large scales in an affordable rate ensuring accessibility and affordability to everyone.

Covid-19 is costing global economy US$375 billion every month (4), let alone the social impact. It is apparent that, there is no alternative to global solidarity to fight this pandemic. Hence, dramatic actions to scale up the production of vaccines will be needed to tackle this global crisis.

References:

(1) Nature Medicine: https://www.nature.com/articles/nm0401_390c

(2) Launch and Scale: https://launchandscalefaster.org/COVID-19

(3) Oxfam: https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/campaigners-warn-9-out-10-people-poor-countries-are-set-miss-out-covid-19-vaccine

(4) Covax, WHO: https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/covax-explained

Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash

COVID Vaccine for Nepal Global Health Health Care Public Health