“Vaccine Nationalism” Hampers Global Fight against Pandemic

Multiple vaccines have already hit the market, bringing new hopes to global COVID-19 prevention and control. However, problems in the global distribution of vaccines, “vaccine nationalism” in particular, have greatly weakened the global anti-pandemic efforts.

While all countries in the world have suffered great losses due to the pandemic, and cherish high expectations on the vaccines, some developed countries have left people astonished. Those countries hoard vaccines in quantities that far exceed the needs of their own populations, drive up vaccine prices to avoid competing with low- and middle-income countries, curb the export of vaccines and raw materials to make sure the vaccine production capacities remain in their hands. Such moves made it extremely difficult for developing countries, especially the least developed ones, to obtain vaccines.

To some extent, how much vaccines can contribute to the global campaign against the pandemic depends on the attitudes of countries around the world on vaccine distribution. Researchers from Northeastern University in the United States analyzed the possible impacts of distribution in two scenarios: if 3 billion doses of vaccines are distributed to all countries in proportion to their populations, deaths from COVID-19 can be reduced by 61%; if high-income countries are given priority and the first 2 billion doses, then the number of deaths can be reduced only by 33%. A report commissioned by the ICC Research Foundation shows that “vaccine nationalism” may cause a global economic loss of $9.2 trillion.

Obviously, “vaccine nationalism” is of no help in saving lives, or economies, and will create larger gaps between countries both in the prevention and control of the virus and future development, prolong and broaden the pandemic, allow the virus to mutate further, and bring greater risks to the world. At a recent COVID-19 briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that failing to guarantee equitable access to vaccines would not only be “a catastrophic moral failure” but an economic failure, as well.

We have encountered many plagues in history. But the COVID-19 is unprecedented. In the past year, the international community has clearly realized that no country can defeat the disease on its own, or get "immunity" against it alone. Any unilateral actions will destroy the global defense against the pandemic.

Just as President Xi Jinping stated in his special address at the World Economic Forum Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda, “No global problem can be solved by any one country alone. There must be global action, global response and global cooperation.” There is no doubt that the international community must ensure a large proportion of the world’s population get vaccinated. Now the top priority is to ensure that developing countries have equal access to vaccines, and that the vaccines are available and affordable in developing countries. This is not only a matter of morality, but also of rationality.

China’s attitude to vaccine distribution has set an example for the international community. At the beginning of vaccine research and development, China first declared to make the developed vaccines as a global public good, and joined the ACT-A and COVAX initiated by the WHO. Currently, such countries as Pakistan, Egypt, Bahrain, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Seychelles, Indonesia, Brail, Turkey, Philippines, Thailand, Peru, and Malaysia have begun getting Chinese vaccines. Eighteen Chinese companies are developing vaccine production capacities, among which Sinopharm will be able to produce more than 1 billion doses in 2021.

The fair and reasonable prices of China’ vaccines can greatly reduce the economic burden of the least developed countries. China’s strong industrial capacity can greatly alleviate the shortage of vaccines worldwide. China’s commitment to international cooperation in fighting the pandemic can offer developing countries greater control in their fights against the pandemic.

Some American and Western media have turned a blind eye to their own vaccination problems and avoid the most important issues. However, they distort China’s intentions as well as vaccine development. They are just seeing the matter through tinted glasses and applying double standard.

On the issue of vaccination, we must proceed from multilateralism and our common future, strive to make sure the COVID-19 vaccines are distributed equally, and jointly promote to build a global community of health for all.

Contributed by Li Zengkui, Guangming Daily

Translated by Ren Meiqi