April 25, 2021 – Less than five months after the first needle penetrated the first arm to give the first COVID-19 vaccine to a 90-year-old grandmother in the UK, the world celebrated its 1 billionth dose of coronavirus blocker Vaccine this weekend.
While it’s not clear who received the 1 billionth dose or where it happened, the milestone alone is noteworthy.
Noteworthy, but not enough. Bloomberg reports that the world is shedding 18.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines every day. At this rate, however, it would take 19 months for 75% of the world to be vaccinated.
Worse still, the geographic victories in the fight against COVID-19 are heavily biased towards rich countries.
In India, which has seen more than 300,000 cases a day for a week, only 1.4% of the population have been fully vaccinated, the Washington Post reported. Compare this to the United States, where 25% of adults are fully vaccinated and more than 40% have received at least one dose, while some states and cities are declining the doses due to a lack of demand for the shots.
Criticism of the United States and the United Kingdom has risen in recent days as world leaders wonder why countries don’t seem to be sharing a flood of vaccines.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to Ajit Doval, his counterpart in India, on Sunday. In a statement, NSC spokeswoman Emily Horne said the US is determined to help – but not with actual vaccine doses yet.
“The United States is working around the clock to provide available resources and supplies,” Horne said.
Horne said the US will provide “specific raw materials” that India needs to manufacture its Covidshield vaccine and will also provide the country with medicines, test kits, ventilators and personal protective equipment. The US will also help India with other materials and pay to expand manufacturing capabilities for BioE, which makes the vaccine in India.
India-born US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-IL, has urged the Biden government to clear excess vaccines.
“We are currently sitting on nearly 40 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the US, a stash we do not use and which we have already opened to fight COVID-19 in Mexico and Canada,” said Krishnamoorthi, member of the House Special Committee for the coronavirus pandemic, said in a statement on April 24.
The US shipped 4 million doses of vaccine to its neighbors to the north and south in March.
Amazing
Only 510 days
December 1, 2019 -> April 24, 2021
First Covid-19 patient documented -> 1 billion vaccinations administered
7 vaccines with an excellent safety profile and effectiveness to significantly reduce serious illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths
– Eric Topol (@EricTopol) April 24, 2021
“To contain the international spread of this virus and protect public health and our international economy, we need to get these vaccines out the door now. I respectfully but strongly urge the Biden government to distribute millions of AstraZeneca vaccine doses to countries hardest hit by the spread of COVID-19, including India, Argentina and possibly others. “
When asked about the plan to share unused American vaccines with other countries, Biden was noncommittal.
“We are about to do that,” he said on Wednesday. “We have already done a little of it. We’re looking at what’s going to happen to some of the vaccines that we don’t use. We will make sure they can be sent safely. And we hope that we can be of use and value to countries all over the world. “
WebMD Health News
swell
White House: “Comments from President Biden on the COVID-19 response and vaccination status.”
Twitter.com: @CongressmanRaja, April 24, 2021
The Associated Press: “From Scarcity to Abundance, US Facing Calls to Share Vaccines.”
The Washington Post: “With the pandemic rebounding, global envy and anger over the plethora of US vaccines is mounting.”
Forbes.com: “1 billion vaccine doses have been given around the world, but mostly in affluent countries.”
CNN.com: “Tracking Covid-19 Vaccinations Worldwide.”
The New York Times: “Tracking Coronavirus Vaccinations Around the World.”
Our world of data, Oxford University: “Vaccinations against Coronavirus (COVID-19)”.
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