4.8 - Covid-19 And Vaccine Inequality Flashcards
When was Covid-19 reported?
On 31 December 2019, China reported an outbreak of disease caused by an unknown virus.
How did Covid-19 spread?
-The virus spread fast fr9m country to country, carried by infected travelers. In the early months, it spread fastest to the richer countries, that were highly connected by air travel.
How did countries deal with the pandemic?
-Experts had warned the world for years that there would be pandemics. In 2005, 196 countries had signed an agreement to prepare for them. But when Covid-19 struck, few countries were ready. Many had no clear plan. Politicians argued for months about what to do. Most governments ordered mask wearing, and lockdowns. Travel between some countries was banned.
Where and when where vaccines made?
The first vaccines were ready in under a year. By May 2021 there were 13 in use - developed in different countries , including the UK, USA, China, India, and Russia.
How did vaccines develop so fast?
-Teams around the world helped each other, instead of competing.
-Advanced tools and techniques in the quaternary sector were a big help.
-Money pored in from high income countries, to fund the research.
-Many countries agreed to take part in vaccine trials.
Why did high income countries fund for vaccine research?
-They knew a vaccine would help their economies recover.
What is a pandemic?
-A disease that spreads over a very wide area, or the whole world, and affects a large number of people .
How did the richest countries react to the vaccines?
-They ordered vaccines in advance from the drug companies, even before verification. They competed to get them.
-They ordered more than they needed, in case some vaccines failed, or did not work for long. The UK ordered about three times what it needed.
-By December 2020, rich countries with 14% of the world’s population had pre-booked over half of the supplies for 2021.
How did Poor countries react to the vaccines?
-Poor countries could not compete.
-Some got free vaccines form China and other countries, who wanted closer ties. This is called Vaccine Diplomacy.
What is Vaccine Diplomacy?
-Is when China and other countries, who wanted closer ties, give away free vaccines to poorer countries.
What is COVAX?
-A scheme set up to share vaccines fairly
How did COVAX work?
1) Richer countries pay money into COVAX
2)COVAX uses the money to help fund the development and production of vaccines.
3)COVAX also buys the vaccines; it can get a low price because it can buy billions of doses.
4) COVAX shares the vaccines equally among all countries ;the poorest 92 countries get them free.
What does mutate mean?
-Change in form or nature.
What was COVAX’s goal for the 92 poorest countries?
-COVAX hoped to give the 92 poorest countries enough vaccines for 20% of their populations, in 2021?
How did delays in vaccination affect the viruses and vaccine?
-Delays mean more time for the virus to spread, and mutate. Which means those vaccines might no longer work.
