Rich Countries Have Bought up the Bulk of Covid-19 Vaccines

According to analysis by charity Oxfam, "rich nations representing just 14 per cent of the world’s population have bought up 53 per cent of all the most promising vaccines so far. Wealthier nations have bought up enough doses to vaccinate their entire populations nearly three times over by the end of 2021 if those currently in clinical trials are all approved for use". As covered in this infographic, Oxfam warns that 9 out of 10 people in poor countries will not get a vaccine before 2022.

Commenting on the first analysis back in September, Anna Marriott, Health Policy Advisor at Oxfam, commented: “While countries like the UK are understandably concerned about securing enough doses, until they challenge monopolies these deals will leave many poorer nations out in the cold. Most importantly, we will never be able to produce a vaccine at the scale required until corporations share their knowledge free from patents. We need a People’s Vaccine, not a profit vaccine.”