The joint report also said the global economic recovery is at risk if vaccines are not equitably manufactured, scaled up and distributed. Covid-19 vaccine inequity will have a lasting and profound impact on socio-economic recovery in low- and lower-middle-income countries without urgent action to boost supply and assure equitable access for every country, including through dose sharing, the report said. A high price per covid-19 vaccine dose relative to other vaccines and delivery costs could put a huge strain on fragile health systems, undermine routine immunization and essential health services, and cause alarming measles spikes, pneumonia and diarrhoea. Lower-income countries need timely access to sustainably priced vaccines and timely financial support, it said. “In some low- and middle-income countries, less than 1% of the population is vaccinated—this is contributing to a two-track recovery from the covid-19 pandemic," said UNDP administrator Achim Steiner.

Source: Mint July 22, 2021 10:16 UTC