After months of development and clinical trials involving tens of thousands of volunteers, countries have begun vaccinating their populations.
While the approval of several Covid-19 vaccines in less than a year is a scientific achievement to be celebrated, concerns are rising over "vaccine nationalism".
Prompting these concerns are the way that some countries were first in line to inoculate their populations because they funded vaccine development.
A reported 9.6 billion doses have already been bought or reserved, potentially shutting out nations that lacked the financial muscle to invest in projects early in the pandemic.
With Covid, everybody knows if you vaccinate one country, you won't be safe. The whole world needs to be vaccinated
“The rich countries have bought up a lot of the initial supplies of the first vaccines,” said Dr Andrew Freedman, an infectious diseases specialist in Cardiff University’s School of Medicine in the UK.
“The pharma companies have committed to ensuring they are available to developing countries as well, but it’s not just the availability of the vaccines, it’s the infrastructure to deliver them.”
Prof David Salisbury, former chairperson of the World Health Organisation’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation and a former director of immunisation at the UK Department of Health, suggested the signs so far were not promising.
“[Developing countries] totally depend on what manufacturers can provide for them,” he said.
"So far it doesn’t seem as if quantities of vaccine being provided are ahead of what was promised.
"If anything, they are behind."
As countries look to immunise their populations as quickly as possible, several vaccines are available now or will be soon.
These include the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine – a US-German medicine – the Moderna vaccine from the US, Russia’s Sputnik V, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the UK and vaccines from China’s Sinopharm and other Chinese pharmaceutical companies.
A Chinese official quoted by media has said 600m doses of coronavirus vaccine would be “ready” by the end of 2020 without specifying what this meant in terms of immunisation.
Meanwhile, Russia – which begin vaccinations using Sputnik V in Moscow in early December – recently announced agreements for the production of its vaccines at eight sites “in several countries”.
Many developing countries will have manufacturing facilities for Western-developed vaccines too.
India, a global pharmaceutical manufacturing powerhouse, is set to produce billions of doses of vaccines developed locally, in the West and elsewhere.
These will be distributed at home and abroad – especially to low and middle-income countries.
In November, the University of Oxford said the vaccine it was providing with AstraZeneca was being manufactured in more than 10 nations to ensure “equitable” global access.
Some developing countries, such as Brazil, which has been especially hard by the pandemic, with more than 190,000 deaths, have forged links with the programme by holding clinical trials.
In August, president Jair Bolsonaro announced a $356m (Dh1.31bn) agreement to purchase and produce 100m doses of the vaccine. Much more could follow next year, along with tens of millions of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which Mexico too has secured supplies of.
Meanwhile, there are initiatives in Brazil to produce a Chinese vaccine, Sinovac’s CoronaVac, which numerous other Latin American countries have also shown an interest in. CoronaVac is also being distributed in Turkey, where successful clinical trials were held.
As well as deals forged by individual nations, Covax – an initiative from the World Health Organisation, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) – will be central to achieving widespread distribution, especially in low-income countries.
Brazil is set to receive tens of millions of doses through the programme, which involves 190 countries.
About half the members, among them the UAE, are self-financing and, along with philanthropic organisations like and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the private sector and the European Commission, will subsidise supplies to Covax’s poorer nations.
In mid-December, Covax announced it had secured access to two billion doses of various vaccines, and all participating countries are due to receive doses for their most vulnerable groups in the first half of 2021.
Agreements cover, for example, 200m doses of a vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, 170m of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and 500m of a Johnson & Johnson-Janssen vaccine set for approval soon.
Covax has raised $2bn so far, but $5bn is needed for procurement and distribution next year, so the programme’s effectiveness and the extent to which poorer nations can begin vaccinating depends on the generosity of better-off countries.
Practical issues could delay programmes in some of the least wealthy countries, as their infrastructure for vaccine delivery is less advanced.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has to be kept at between -70°C and -80°C, may be difficult to distribute, although storage with dry ice in insulated boxes will reduce the need for expensive cold-storage equipment.
Developing countries lacking annual influenza vaccination programmes, which typically focus on the elderly, may find it harder to identify their most at-risk individuals.
However, a factor that could help poorer countries is the way that leading vaccines have proved so effective in clinical trials, suggested Prof Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of East Anglia in the UK.
Developed nations, which have spread their risk by purchasing doses of multiple vaccines based on different types of technology, may not require all the supplies they purchased, so it could be that “there’s a lot of vaccine going really cheap”.
“I’ve not heard anybody say that, but it did strike me as a possible silver lining,” he said.
The UK, for example, has bought or has options on more than 400m doses of seven types of vaccine, many more than needed for a 66m population, especially as some groups such as children may not require vaccination.
It remains to be seen how well the various vaccines will prevent transmission as well as illness. If they are ineffective at stopping spread, there will be reduced benefit in vaccinating younger adults, who are less vulnerable. This too could result in greater global availability.
Demographics too could ease the effect of shortages: developing nations tend to have younger populations, so the proportion of citizens vulnerable to the coronavirus is lower.
“They’re not getting anywhere near the mortality rates we’re seeing in Europe and North America. There are a lot fewer people over 55 in Africa compared to Europe. The death rates in these countries probably won’t be as dramatic as here,” said Prof Hunter.
Indeed, per capita death rates paint a stark picture: eight of the 10 worst-affected nations are in Europe, with the hardest-hit African country, South Africa, only the 37th-worst-affected globally.
Ultimately, immunising the most vulnerable people in just developed nations is likely to take most of 2021, according to Dr Freedman.
“It may take considerably longer than that to roll it out to developing countries. A year is optimistic. Programmes will start, but to deliver it to every adult, that will take a lot longer,” he said.
Some experts have suggested it could be well into 2022 before some people in developing nations receive their vaccinations.
Despite the complications of supply and distribution, globally there is widespread acknowledgement that coronavirus vaccination programmes must take place as widely as possible.
“With Covid, everybody knows if you vaccinate one country, you won’t be safe. The whole world needs to be vaccinated,” said Prof Polly Roy, professor of virology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
“I think there will definitely be a way forward: the vaccine-[creating] countries, as well as the different foundations delivering the vaccine, will insist everybody needs the vaccine.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Race card:
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; 2,200m
7.40pm: Conditions; Dh240,000; 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 2,000m
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed; Dh265,000; 1,200m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; 1,600m
10pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 1,400m
The five pillars of Islam
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Carzaty%2C%20now%20Kavak%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20launched%20in%202018%2C%20Kavak%20in%20the%20GCC%20launched%20in%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20140%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Automotive%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20raised%20%246m%20in%20equity%20and%20%244m%20in%20debt%3B%20Kavak%20plans%20%24130m%20investment%20in%20the%20GCC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
