COVID-19 vaccine allocation may change over time
The top US infectious diseases expert said that a COVID-19 vaccine may be available to US nationals by late December
Dr Anthony Fauci, the Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said yesterday that there could be a vaccine deployed to immunise high-risk US nationals as early as December or early January.Although COVID-19 vaccine candidates are already in production to speed up delivery, there will be limited doses of vaccines available in the immediate term if one of the eleven candidates currently in last phase clinical trials receives authorisation. Who is vaccinated will not only affect the speed in which this pandemic is brought under control, but also which communities suffer the largest socioeconomic and health scars from it.
Our judgement
Rich nations have already pre-ordered multiple vaccine candidates and will be able to use them first. However, over the next twelve months at least, doses will be insufficient to prevent community transmission: it is estimated two-thirds of the population would need to be vaccinated to achieve this. Health workers and individuals at greatest risk of death will probably be prioritised. From there, the order in which other groups with be vaccinated will depend on the particular characteristics of each country’s pandemic, and the priorities and governance of the specific country.
See INT: COVID-19 vaccine allocation may change over time - October 30, 2020