{"id":2039,"date":"2021-09-07T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csspsinag.wordpress.com\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2021-09-07T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T11:00:00","slug":"vaccine-inequity-will-only-prolong-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/07\/vaccine-inequity-will-only-prolong-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaccine inequity will only prolong the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite having one of the longest and most restrictive lockdowns globally, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines continues to increase. Having this rigorous cycle of lockdowns doesn’t help to decrease the daily cases of the virus. Its continuous growth is extended due to a lack of mass testing and contact tracing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Almost a year and a half since COVID-19 began to ravage our world, there persists a strong demand for treatment and immunization. Sadly, low-income nations like the Philippines face a severe disparity in vaccine inoculation. This has led to prolonged lockdowns, deepening economic crises, and a slew of other problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the emergence of more infectious variants of the COVID-19 virus, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) says it is not yet time to administer booster vaccines since supply is scarce. The WHO criticized the apparent haste among wealthy nations to administer booster injections while billions worldwide have yet to receive even a single dose. Doing so is ultimately considered immoral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the unwillingness of some governments and companies to give up patents and the rush for booster treatments when others are in desperate need of the vaccine has fueled much controversy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, the WHO asked for a halt on Covid vaccination booster shots to help alleviate the severe disparity in dosage distribution between rich and poor nations. Several countries plan to add a third vaccine as they struggle to contain the Delta variant’s spread. Furthermore, WHO officials argued that the research on booster doses of Covid vaccinations was still inconclusive. What was considered more necessary was the scarce vaccine supply in low-income countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another issue is the delayed vaccination in various countries due to their economic capacity. Reports from the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), shows that the Philippines was expected to achieve herd immunity by 2023 \u2014 a projection of recovery that lags behind much of the word. Those in developed countries are expected to reach herd immunity objectives far sooner than developing countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, as of late August this year, at least 60% of the population of significantly greater economically developed countries had gotten at least one dose of vaccination. The figure was just 1% among poorer people in low-income countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To put this in context, wealthier countries have administered 100 times the number of vaccines as poorer countries,” according to the EIU report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longer the pandemic continues, more deadly and infectious COVID 19 variants emerge. Currently, there are a variety of emerging variants all around the world. One of these is the Delta variant, discovered in India. It is fatal as it spreads considerably quicker than other variants therefore, generating a greater number of severe infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the WHO is keeping an eye on a novel coronavirus variant known as “MU”. According to the WHO, it possesses mutations that have the means to evade protection produced by prior Covid-19 infection or vaccine inoculation. Moreover, according to the WHO, more research is needed to understand the clinical features of the novel variant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These issues might have been easily avoided and resolved if wealthier countries had willingly distributed vaccines to the world. The production of Covid-19 vaccines and auxiliary supplies has surfaced as a formidable worldwide issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A solution to this scarcity is to improve the flow of raw materials. Manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine array necessitates specialized manufacturing capacity, including materials and equipment manufactured in the United States and Europe. Global trade facilitation organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), should collaborate to develop an international agreement requiring all countries to eliminate trade barriers that impede the global flow of vaccine materials and supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the Philippine government must also be responsive and effective when it comes to this matter. The current pandemic response is entirely inefficient, especially in terms of vaccinations. Despite having one of the longest and most restrictive lockdowns globally, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continues to increase. Having this rigorous cycle of lockdowns doesn’t help to decrease the daily cases of the virus. Its continuous growth is extended due to a lack of mass testing and contact tracing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Philippines intending to discontinue large-scale lockdowns in granular or smaller areas, improved contact tracing is necessary. Suppose the government continues to rely on pointless lockdowns and puzzling regulations, including perpetual ECQs. In that case, socio-economic disaster and overall health risks are waiting to happen unless we devise an excellent system for contact tracing and mass testing and connect it to our public information systems, particularly government officials. The pandemic should never be used to justify incompetence. Stubbornness and imperialist motives should not be the norm if the world is to ever recover from the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image courtesy of REUTERS \/ Lisa Marie David.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite having one of the longest and most restrictive lockdowns globally, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines continues to increase. Having this rigorous cycle of lockdowns doesn’t help to decrease the daily cases of the virus. Its continuous growth is extended due to a lack of mass testing and contact tracing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":2043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-2039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-3-1-1.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1833,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/26\/dutertes-pandemic-response-unscientific-wasteful-and-anti-poor\/","url_meta":{"origin":2039,"position":0},"title":"Duterte\u2019s pandemic response: Unscientific, wasteful, and anti-poor","author":"Staff","date":"26 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"When it comes to dealing with COVID-19, the Philippines falls far short of expectations compared to the rest of Southeast Asia and much of the world. When it comes to dealing with COVID-19, the Philippines falls far short of expectations compared to the rest of Southeast Asia and much of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/health_2020_11_27_13_28_57-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2452,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/21\/delta-now-the-most-common-covid-19-variant-in-the-philippines-doh\/","url_meta":{"origin":2039,"position":1},"title":"DELTA, NOW THE MOST COMMON COVID-19 VARIANT IN THE PHILIPPINES \u2014 DOH","author":"Staff","date":"21 September 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Delta variant, first detected last July, is now recognized as the most common lineage of the coronavirus, the Department of Health (DOH) announced in an online press briefing last September 20, Monday.\u00a0 \u201cOf the 12,530 samples sequenced assigned with a lineage as of Sept 18, 24.2 percent of samples\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/163287701_795414901087747_6331958823666375274_n-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/163287701_795414901087747_6331958823666375274_n-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/163287701_795414901087747_6331958823666375274_n-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/163287701_795414901087747_6331958823666375274_n-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/163287701_795414901087747_6331958823666375274_n-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1925,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/09\/03\/with-the-continuing-growth-of-covid-cases-medical-students-reiterate-postponeseptple\/","url_meta":{"origin":2039,"position":2},"title":"With the continuing growth of COVID cases, medical students reiterate: #PostponeSeptPLE","author":"Staff","date":"3 September 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Philippine Medical Students\u2019 Association (PMSA), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), board exam takers, doctors, and others echo their appeal: postpone September 2021 Physician Licensure Examinations (PLE)! This tumult began after the Board of Medicine of the Professional Regulation Commission (BOM-PRC) persisted that the coming PLE shall\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/sinag-web-banner-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1738,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/19\/violence-against-women-worsen-as-duterte-admin-struggles-to-contain-covid-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":2039,"position":3},"title":"Violence against women worsen as Duterte admin struggles to contain Covid-19","author":"Staff","date":"19 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The fight to end violence against women is a tough one. The strong-arm of patriarchy tips the scales against women and makes them targets of abuse simply for being women. And a misogynistic president does nothing to help the situation. What could one expect from a misogynistic head of state\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/picture1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1629,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/08\/06\/scientific-solutions-will-defeat-covid-19-fear-and-violence-wont\/","url_meta":{"origin":2039,"position":4},"title":"Scientific solutions will defeat COVID-19; fear and violence won\u2019t.","author":"emdeborja","date":"6 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"While the ECQ may give hospitals and health workers much-needed breathing room, its purpose is defeated by the government\u2019s unscientific approach in controlling the virus\u2019 spread. Today marks the start of the two-week Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) induced by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. While implementing quarantine\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/medical-workers-santa-ana-manila-april-9-2020-001-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/medical-workers-santa-ana-manila-april-9-2020-001-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/medical-workers-santa-ana-manila-april-9-2020-001-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/medical-workers-santa-ana-manila-april-9-2020-001-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/medical-workers-santa-ana-manila-april-9-2020-001-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/medical-workers-santa-ana-manila-april-9-2020-001-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3482,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/20\/upd-councils-and-alliances-call-for-recovery-break\/","url_meta":{"origin":2039,"position":5},"title":"UPD councils and alliances call for recovery break","author":"Staff","date":"20 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In light of the current surge in COVID-19 cases and the aftermath of typhoon Odette, the UP Diliman University Student Council together with the League of College Councils petitioned the university administration to impose a recovery and wellness break for all academic stakeholders yesterday, January 19, 2022. In light of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-3-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-3-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-3-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-3-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-3-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/sinag-web-banner-3-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":122,"user_id":9,"is_guest":0,"slug":"csspsinag","display_name":"Staff","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/194807626fee183640d3de57e788ba7c8c0d40bd86bfc1237bed56bcd3832c1b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2039"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2039"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=2039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}