The criticisms aimed at the G7’s plan to donate 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to poorer countries -- that it lacks ambition, is far too slow, and is not congruent with the needs of the times -- are warranted and justified, and the world is right to expect more from the richest and most powerful countries.
Vaccination at this point has been directly correlated with wealth, with the US and European countries far ahead in terms of vaccinating their population in comparison to less prosperous nations. Yet, what Western leaders are failing to recognize time and time again is the fact that Covid-19 is a global pandemic, and it is only through vaccinating the global population -- and not just selective wealthy countries -- that it could be brought to an end.
With that in mind, a batch of 1 billion doses of the vaccine is a mere drop in the ocean, when, according to Oxfam, given the requirement for two shots per person, at least 11 billion doses of the vaccine would be required globally. While nations do have to take care of their own people first, with an eye to the future for any possible setbacks, not vaccinating poorer nations will be detrimental not just for those countries and their populations, but for the rest of the world as well.
As such, what is required is a greater sense of urgency -- a real solution that aims to end the pandemic and not half-heartedly hand out vaccines to poor countries. It has been repeatedly said that it will take an exceptional, concerted effort to rid the world of this pandemic, and the G7 nations must fulfil their share of the effort required.
We cannot afford to forget that this is a global pandemic, and to get out of it, all nations must do so, together. After all, the virus is perfectly capable of moving across borders, and causing untold devastation, as we have learned the hard way.
