World

UN analysis shows link between lack of vaccine equity and widening inequalities — Global Issues


In September 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) set ambitious global goals. The United Nations health agency urges 70% of the global population to be vaccinated by mid-2022.

At that time, just over 3% of people in low-income countries had been vaccinated with at least one dose, compared with 60.18% in high-income countries.

Six months later, the world still hasn’t reached that goal.

The total number of vaccines used has increased dramatically, but there are also disparities in distribution: of the 10.7 billion doses administered worldwide, only one percent are used in income countries. short.

People in rural areas of Yemen are suffering from extreme poverty.

UNDP Yemen

People in rural areas of Yemen are suffering from extreme poverty.

This means that 2.8 billion people around the world are still waiting to be photographed for the first time.

Vaccine inequality jeopardizes everyone’s safety, and take the main responsibility because of growing inequalities between – and within – countries. This situation not only risks prolonging the pandemic, but the lack of equity has many other effects, slowing down the economic recovery of the entire country, the global labor market, the payment of public debt and countries’ ability to invest in other priorities.

Recovery is harder than ever

Two years from the start COVID-19 pandemic, poorer countries are finding it more difficult than ever to recover, the labor market is struggling, public debt remains high, and there is little budget left to invest in other priorities.

New analysis by UNDP shows that most vulnerable countries are found in sub-Saharan Africa, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad, where less than one percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Outside of Africa, Haiti and Yemen still reach two percent coverage.

Studies show that, if low-income countries had the same vaccination rates as high-income countries last September (about 54%), then will increase their GDP to US$16.27 billion by 2021.

The countries that are counted as the most potential loss of income during the pandemic, due to vaccine inequality, are Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

This lost income could be used to address other pressing development challenges that are consistent with Sustainable development goals (SDGs) make up the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable DevelopmentThe organization’s blueprint for a just future for people and the planet.

For example, in South Sudan, costs associated with COVID-19 vaccination may already include all social assistance programs and educational expenditures in the country, while in Burundi the costs may be provided health care to approximately 4.7 million people.

While protracted strikes worldwide have hurt workers everywhere, those in the developing world have been disproportionately affected. Richer countries have mitigated the blow by increasing economic support for both formal and informal workers, while in low-income countries support has declined between 2020 and 2021.

UNDP is supporting Sudanese farmers whose income and crop yields have been impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown.

UNDP / Ahmed Alsamani

UNDP is supporting Sudanese farmers whose income and crop yields have been impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Where do we go from here?

Emergency access to vaccines and financial resources – such as grants and concessions proposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – according to the analysis, is essential for the poorest countries, with support tailored to each country’s circumstances.

For example, many people have benefited from vaccination campaigns conducted by international organisations, and this experience can inform how COVID-19 vaccinations are carried out.

And Global panel on vaccine equity, developed by UNDPThe World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Oxford, are helping researchers and policymakers perform their own analysis, and develop programs that can most effectively benefit the public. their populations and go some way to addressing global inequality.

If vaccine equity is not addressed early on, the consequences can be very dire. As the United Nations head of human rights, Michelle Bachelet, said on March 10More cooperation between countries is needed to contain the pandemic quickly, while delayed vaccinations can lead to social tensions and escalating violence, and take a decade to develop.



Source link

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button