Prognosis

Vaccine Nationalism Threatens WHO’s 2021 Goal of 2 Billion Doses

  • India wanted more vaccines than planned: Serum Institute CEO
  • Covax struggles, vaccine inequality may prolong the pandemic
The production of line for vials of Covishield at the Serum Institute of India Ltd. Hadaspar plant in Pune, India, on Jan. 22.Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg
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Vaccine nationalism in countries including the U.S. and India is likely to derail efforts by the World Health Organization to deliver 2 billion doses to poorer and middle-income nations by the end of the year, according to the head of the world’s biggest vaccine maker.

Countries are holding tight to their supplies and restricting access to materials needed to make more, said Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India Ltd. The company is responsible for providing more than half of the shots used so far in the WHO-backed Covax program that aims to provide equitable vaccine access across the world.