Vaccine nationalism: a predicament in ending the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In a recent correspondence, vaccine hesitancy and its pressing issue in possible delaying of being triumphant in the pandemic was discussed. This paper highlights vaccine nationalism as a predicament that would not just delay but worsen the present situation of the pandemic. This study suggests a global response among countries that people must see the world as a global village and as one community it must save collectively.

The pursuit of ending the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the surfacing and rollout of available vaccines to be utilized by the people. However in a recent correspondence hesitancy in vaccination poses a predicament.¹ People are hesitant in partaking in the government’s effort in vaccination.² Thus, this poses a predicament or a delay in ending the pandemic. However, in the emergence of ‘Vaccine Nationalism’ among countries, it poses a predicament too in solving this global problem. To some extent in the present time, hesitancy seems not anymore the issue rather than the supply of the available vaccine. Moreover, people who want to be vaccinated could not even receive the vaccine due to the lack of supply.

While we are part of human history’s largest vaccination campaign, vaccine nationalism seems to be delaying the global success of this pandemic.³ Vaccine nationalism is the prioritization of the domestic needs of the country in an outlay of others.⁴ This action of countries prioritizing themselves seems to increase their protection and vulnerability to the virus. As a result many, of the rich countries purchase⁵ and hoard supplies⁶ of the vaccine for their utilization. However, vaccinating is not safeguarding one’s country and it does not contribute to solving the problem of the pandemic. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated “It [Vaccine Nationalism] would also lead to a prolonged pandemic as only a small number of countries would get most of the supply. Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus”.⁷ If we only vaccinate the rich country and a few of the developing countries the virus would still thrive and continue in the non-vaccinated communities. Thus, more likely mutations would occur⁸ and eventually evade the immune response set out by vaccinations.⁴ Hence, the efforts of the production and distribution of vaccines, and vaccination plans would come to waste due to the mutation of the virus.

Without the systematic and equal distribution of vaccines to the other countries, the global economy would continue to suffer.⁹ Death and hospitalization due to COVID-19 virus would still pose a threat to the governments of countries, and worsen their collapsing economy. Moreover, with the continuous presence of the virus people could not achieve global economic recovery. If the virus remains and continue, to thrive in unvaccinated and unprotected communities, it will pose a threat everywhere.⁶ Thus, national vaccination caters to the perpetuation of this pandemic.

In conclusion, amidst the diversity of our culture,¹⁰ economy,¹¹ and national concern, we must view ourselves as global citizens. A global citizen is a person that understands and see’s the world from a wider perspective.¹² Thus, a “my nation first” approach¹³ is not a viable option in solving this pandemic. Rather a collective and global response¹⁴ is needed to be implemented by each country. Thus, the implementation of stringent policy and cooperation of individuals would be not enough. Consequently, we must see the world as a global village¹⁵ and as one community we must collectively act to save it.

James Darwin N. Lagman, Instructor

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest in this paper.