Covid Vaccine Inequality Remains Vast

Even as rich countries offer their populations booster shots, many Africans still await their first dose.

• If you are reading this on your smartphone, chances are high that you are vaccinated or live in a country where the majority of the population is.
• In low income countries, fewer than 10 percent of people have been vaccinated. Some 75% of global vaccine supplies have gone to only 10 countries.
• Africa has only received 6 percent of all Covid vaccines, but it has 17 percent of the world's population.
• Richer countries that have hoarded vaccines have offered to donate vaccines to poorer nations. But that hasn’t happened on a large enough scale.
• An initiative for equitable distribution of vaccines called COVAX is now picking up steam. But logistical issues of getting vaccines to the people who need them remain.
• Time is of the essence—and not only for people in low-income countries. More global vaccinations means lower chances a new and dangerous coronavirus variant will emerge.