COVID-19 – One Virus, One World But Different Vaccines and Shots

Background: The danger of the novel coronavirus is still with us. COVID-19 took the world by storm in early 2020, though it had originated earlier in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The current COVID-19 vaccines that are available in different parts of the world are not equally distributed and administered, nor are they of equal efficacy.Methods: Data on COVID-19 vaccinations from “Our world in data” were analyzed by matching them with the Work Bank’s wealth classifications of each country. Numbers of those vaccinated were compared within each wealth region, and among wealth regions, throughout the globe.Findings: By the 25 th of August 2021, one-third (31.9%) of the world’s population had been vaccinated at least once. By contrast, 1.8% of the residents in 18 low-income economies had been vaccinated. Globally, an estimated 3,989 million people are awaiting vaccination. Most live in low-middle income economies. At the current rate of COVID-19 vaccine administration, it is projected that it will take 4 months to accomplish this. Because vaccine doses are being diverted in many regions to third or ‘booster’ shots, and for other logistic reasons, global herd immunity is unlikely to be reached.Interpretations: “No one is safe, unless everyone is safe.” To control the pandemic, the speed and comprehensiveness of effective COVID-19 vaccination requires urgent improvement. Although all human beings are of equal value, the accessibility of effective vaccines favours the wealthiest.Funding Information: None to declare.Declaration of Interests: None to declare.