Vaccine Nationalism

About Vaccine Nationalism

Vaccine nationalism describes the tendency of countries to prioritize their own populations over global equitable access during a pandemic. During COVID 19, wealthy countries pre purchased the majority of early vaccine supply. Canada secured enough doses to vaccinate its population several times over. The UK and US secured early bilateral deals with Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. An Oxfam analysis in September 2020 found that wealthy nations representing about 13 percent of the world population had secured more than half of promised doses. COVAX struggled to compete with bilateral deals. Vaccine nationalism extended to export restrictions. India temporarily banned vaccine exports in April 2021 during its Delta wave, disrupting COVAX supply. The EU implemented export controls. Critics argued that vaccine nationalism delayed global vaccination. Modeling suggested that equitable distribution would have been economically beneficial for wealthy countries by reducing global transmission and enabling economic recovery. The Pandemic Treaty aims to address vaccine nationalism in future pandemics.