AFRICA: Wealthy countries’ vaccine behaviour unacceptable — Sirleaf Johnson

THE co-chair of a panel reviewing the world’s response to the coronavirus pandemic — the former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — has expressed disappointment at the way rich countries are monopolising supplies of vaccines.

She told an online briefing of the World Health Organisation that vaccine rollout in poorer countries was going too slowly:Quote Message: We are grateful to scientists for developing vaccines in record time. As 2020 ended we felt hope, but the panel is discouraged and frankly disappointed by the unequal plans for vaccine rollout.

“We are grateful to scientists for developing vaccines in record time. As 2020 ended we felt hope, but the panel is discouraged and frankly disappointed by the unequal plans for vaccine rollout.Quote Message: Tens of millions of doses of vaccines are already available in some of the wealthiest countries, but based on current plans vaccines will not be widely available across the African continent, for example, until 2022 or even 2023.

“Tens of millions of doses of vaccines are already available in some of the wealthiest countries, but based on current plans vaccines will not be widely available across the African continent, for example, until 2022 or even 2023.Quote Message: It is unacceptable for wealthy countries to be able to [vaccinate] 100% of their population while poorer countries make do with only 20%. It is no exaggeration to say that we are at risk of creating a vaccine distribution system grounded in inequity.”

“It is unacceptable for wealthy countries to be able to [vaccinate] 100% of their population while poorer countries make do with only 20%. It is no exaggeration to say that we are at risk of creating a vaccine distribution system grounded in inequity.”