Vaccine nationalism | How it affects developing countries | Drawbacks | Alternatives | Mains
What is vaccine nationalism?
When a country manages to secure doses of vaccines for its own citizens or residents and prioritizes its own domestic markets before they are made available in other countries it is known as ‘vaccine nationalism’.
How is it done?
It is done through pre-purchase agreements between a government and a vaccine manufacturer.
For Example, The UK, USA, Japan, and the EU have spent tens of billions of dollars on deals with vaccine front runners such as Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca even before their effectiveness is proven.
Is Vaccine nationalism a new trend?
No.
The present race to hoard Covid-19 vaccines harks back to a similar situation that happened in 2009 during the H1N1 flu pandemic.
Australia, the first country to come up with a vaccine, blocked exports while some of the wealthiest countries entered into pre-purchase agreements with several pharmaceutical companies.
It was only when the H1N1 pandemic began to recede that developed countries offered to donate vaccine doses to poorer economies.
However, it must be noted that H1N1 was a milder disease and its impact was far lesser than Covid-19.
Aren’t there any laws to check vaccine nationalism?
Interestingly, even though vaccine nationalism runs against global public health principles, there are no provisions in international laws that prevent pre-purchase agreements.
What are the drawbacks of vaccine nationalism?
The major drawback of vaccine nationalism is that it puts countries with fewer resources and bargaining power at a disadvantage.
Thus, if countries with a large number of cases lag in obtaining the vaccine, the disease will continue to disrupt global supply chains and, as a result, economies around the world.
What is the alternative?
The alternative to arrest vaccine nationalism is a global collaboration, which is being done through the WHO-backed COVAX Facility mechanism.
So far, more than 170 countries have expressed interest: about 90 low- and middle-income countries and 80 fully self-financing countries.
The countries who join the initiative are assured supply of vaccines whenever they become successful.
Moreover, the countries will get assured supplies to protect at least 20 percent of their populations.
Also other bilateral, multilateral agreements between developing and developed countries must be made for vaccine exchanges.
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