During a media briefing on August 4, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) requested that wealthy nations cease the distribution of COVID-19 booster shots due to worldwide vaccine inequality.

This request comes shortly after rich countries around the world, such as Germany, France, and Britain, initiated a booster shot campaign beginning in September. Israel has already begun rolling out COVID booster shots.

Meanwhile, in many low-income nations, those at highest risk have not yet received their first dose of the vaccine.

"We need an urgent reversal from the majority of vaccines going to high-income countries, to the majority going to low-income countries," stated WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who asked for a two-month pause in order to allow the world to meet his goal of vaccinating 10% of each country's population by the end of September, a goal known as "the Sprint to September."

More than four billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered globally. Over 80% of those doses have been administered to high- and upper-middle-income countries, which account for less than half of the world's population.

Tedros described how low-income nations "need vaccines urgently, especially healthcare workers, older people, and other vulnerable groups. And yet even while hundreds of millions of people are still waiting for their first dose, some rich countries are moving toward booster doses."

Many wealthy nations across the globe are considering COVID booster shots as the Delta variant spreads rapidly, although as of now, the number of nations that are considering it outweigh the number already administering it.

"I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people from the Delta variant. But we cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it, while the world's most vulnerable people remain unprotected," said Tedros, who explained how wealthier nations have given almost 100 doses for every 100 people, while less wealthy nations have given approximately 1.5 doses per every 100 people.

"Accordingly, WHO is calling for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September, to enable at least 10% of the population of every country to be vaccinated," Tedros said. He went on to explain how the course of this pandemic was dependent on October's G20 Summit, which addresses issues related to the global economy. Tedros mentioned that he will meet with the G20 Summit health ministers in one month, and will request for them to make concrete commitments in support of the WHO's global vaccine goals.

A closer look at the data
The UNDP is a prominent organization within the United Nations that fights to end poverty, inequality, and climate change, and has come out with information regarding COVID vaccine inequality. If there is one thing we know, it's that countries with slower vaccination rates are more susceptible to variants of the virus, a surge in cases, and slower economic recovery.

A surge of COVID-19 cases in lower-income nations also brings with it a disruption to supply chains and economic growth, as well as financial and governmental instability.

Vaccine inequality is shaped by conflicting factors, including political, economic, and social ones. On average, high-income countries began vaccinating their citizens two months earlier than low-income countries.

Some of the vaccine inequality stems from the fact that the United States is home to the pharmaceutical companies (Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson) that have made the vaccines, as well as the most innovative manufacturing facilities. This has placed the US at the head of the race to normalcy: while many Americans resume in-person activities, healthcare workers in lower-income nations have yet to receive a vaccine.

According to UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the cost per each individual COVID vaccine dose ranges from USD $2 to $40, while the estimated distribution cost is USD $3.75 per individual vaccinated with two doses. Looking at low-income countries, the median health expenditure per capita is USD $41.

Additional data from a UNDP survey, WHO, and UNICEF shows that low-income nations would have to raise their healthcare spending by about 56.6% to cover the vaccination costs for 70% of the population, while high-income nations would only have to increase their healthcare spending by about 0.8%.

Another problematic scenario that arises with the increased interested in boosters shows that COVID vaccines may be a recurring expense. Long-term, this is worrisome, and could potentially align with the HIV crisis in terms of having the treatment and preventive care to save lives, yet it not being easily accessible to those who need it most. If the world is unable to start vaccinating greater portions of low-income nations against the coronavirus, how many more people will die? How many more times will it mutate and spread?

The US federal government tries to right its wrongs of bulk buying
At the White House on August 3, President Biden announced that the United States is set to deliver 110 million doses of COVID vaccines to 65 countries, while also acquiring an additional 500 million Pfizer doses that will be donated to lower- and middle-income nations by the end of the month.

"This is about our values. We value inherent dignity of all people... In times of trouble, Americans reach out to offer a helping hand. That's who we are," said Biden.

"We're always going to have enough doses for every American who wants one," Biden remarked. At the start of the year, the United States bought enough COVID doses to vaccinate the population three times over, but as of August 4, only 50.3% of the country is fully vaccinated

He also dived into the issue of some Americans who refuse to get the vaccine and described how states were offering financial incentives in order to get more shots in arms. North Carolina, for example, is offering $100 for those who are willing to step up and become protected against the coronavirus. So far, the financial incentives have been a moderate success.

Biden believes that other prosperous nations should set aside enough doses to fully vaccinate their population, and then donate remaining doses or money to assist lower-income nations. Furthermore, Biden mentioned how he would be working to increase vaccination manufacturing both nationally and internationally.

"The virus knows no boundaries. You can't build a wall high enough to keep it out. There is no wall high enough or ocean wide enough to keep us safe from... COVID-19 in other nations," he said.

The path to getting out of this pandemic remains fragile, and if one thing is for certain, it's that vaccines save lives. And while those at greatest risk overseas beg for a COVID vaccine supply as their hospitals overflow, you should be out scheduling an appointment if you haven't already. We're privileged to be living in a nation where a life-saving shot is both accessible and free: take advantage of the opportunity, because others who cannot are dying as a direct result.