COVID-19 vaccine equity: a health systems and policy perspective

Remco van de Pas, Marc-Alain Widdowson, Raffaella Ravinetto, Prashanth N Srinivas, Theresa J Ochoa, Thierno Oumar Fofana, Wim Van Damme

Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The global COVID-19 vaccine rollout has highlighted inequities in the accessibility of countries to COVID-19 vaccines. Populations in low- and middle-income countries have found it difficult to have access to COVID-19 vaccines.

AREAS COVERED: This perspective provides analyses on historical and contemporary policy trends of vaccine development and immunization programs, including the current COVID-19 vaccination drive, and governance challenges. Moreover, we also provide a comparative health system analysis of the COVID-19 vaccine deployment in some countries from different continents. It recommends that the international Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) partnership requires a strong governance mechanism and urgent financial investment.

EXPERT OPINION: All WHO member states should agree on technology transfer and voluntary license-sharing via a commonly governed technology access pool and supported by a just Intellectual Property regime. Contextualized, dynamic understandings and country-specific versions of health systems strengthening are needed to improve vaccine equity in a sustainable matter.

Original languageEnglish
JournalExpert Review of Vaccines
Volume21
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)25-36
Number of pages12
ISSN1476-0584
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Health Policy
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans

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