Covid Vaccines For The Third-World

[Hymie]

Apparently the UK has now given the first vaccine shot to nearly 11 million people.

Guess how many have been vaccinated in Africa?
See below for the answer

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Answer: 25 (just 25) – source: current edition of Private Eye

[brainiac]

Are you saying that's our fault?

[Zacs-Master]

I’m not sure what your point is (or indeed, if you have one).

[Hymie]

I’m not apportioning blame – just making an observation that no one cares much about the third world when our need has primacy.

[tiggerblue10]

What are the African governments doing about it?

[Hymie]

They are probably looking at their national debt and asking how they can afford to vaccinate their impoverished population.

[Zacs-Master]

Covax are due to,start distribution this month.

[Sqad]

World vaccination is a target but must start somewhere.
Would you have preferred that we started elsewhere?
I.e Zimbabwe.
That would really go down well with the incumbents.

[Sqad]

Hymie....correct.....I don't care.

[Hymie]

It’s heartening to see the level of empathy for the world’s poor, expressed by fellow ABers.

[Sqad]

Hymie.......don't have your jab, just send it to Africa.

[Zacs-Master]

Hymie, did you read my post, or conveniently ignore it as it actually answers your question (or at least lessens your ignorance on the subject)?

[brainiac]

Stop moaning - the vaccination roll-out is one thing that the government has handled well, and should be congratulated for it.

[jno]

South Africa has got a million AZ vaccines, but they do need to carry out checks first, as other countries do.

[New Judge]

I assume (though you have not said) that you believe this is unacceptable. So let’s have a think:

● The UK has probably contributed more than most to the development and commercial production of effective vaccines.

● Much of the cost of this has been met by the UK government (aka the UK taxpayer).

● UK taxpayers have been under draconian restrictions for much of the last year in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

● This has come at a huge cost to them personally and to the country at large not only financially in general health and wellbeing.

● The vaccination programme will enable many of the restrictions to be lifted and the problems the country has faced for the last ten months to be reduced.

The vaccination programme has been prioritised to give protection first to those most at risk from serious symptoms or death should they contract the virus and to front line health workers. Are you saying some of the 11m doses should have been shipped to Africa before they were administered here? If not, what is the point of your question?

[ynnafymmi]

I think the West tried to impose vaccinations in (first)Vietnam(against a various amount of deadly diseases) and then Afghanistan(against polio,i think).In neither place did the eejits running the place accept our goodwill gestures.Will Africa be any different?

[Mamyalynne]

As Zacs has mentioned, things are at last gathering some pace.

They've waited too long.

https://reliefweb.int/report/world/covax-expects-start-sending-millions-covid-19-vaccines-africa-february

[davebro]

"Guess how many have been vaccinated in Africa?"

I bet all those with any power have been!

[Zacs-Master]

His only point is to decry the Govt, or attempt to. He’s clearly never heard of Covax and their distribution plans.

You have to remember that Hymie tried to suggest Boris should resign because of how the Dutch had handled a child welfare issue. His thought processes obviously leave a lot to be desired.

[jim360]

I hope that Africa aren't left behind in the long run on vaccination, but it can't be irrelevant that, South Africa excepted, there hasn't been much impact of Covid at all on the continent. Indeed, the UK has recorded more deaths than the entire continent combined, and more than twice as many as the entire continent minus South Africa; all this despite having 18 times fewer people.

It seems fair to say that, for a change, the more urgent need for Vaccinations is in Europe and the Americas, rather than African and Asian nations.

All this is, however, assuming that figures from Africa are broadly accurate. They may be underestimates, eg due to relative lack of testing, and of course the picture may yet change. But, honestly, the need here is more urgent right now.

[Zacs-Master]

SA has a huge wealth divide. I’d be surprised if the first doses of vaccine went anywhere near those most vulnerable in the Shanty Towns.