Is it Ethical to Prioritize Covid-19 Variant Hotspots in a Worldwide Vaccination Plan?
The B117 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, first identified in October 2020, has become a significant concern worldwide. This variant, which is 71% more transmissible than the current globally predominant strain, has rapidly spread through the UK, leading to a number of challenges.
The UK has entered its third national lockdown due to the dominance of the B117 variant. This strategic readjustment of the vaccine deployment approach is necessary, favouring areas where the virulent B117 variant has become prevalent.
On the 15th of December, Dr Jenny Harries and Dr Susan Hopkins presented data, on behalf of the UK government, indicating that the B117 variant is out-competing other forms. Since the press briefing, the more infectious B117 variant appears to have dominated the UK.
Measures aimed at containing B117 within the UK are important in combating the Covid-19 pandemic. However, delays in population inoculation in areas where the B117 variant is prevalent propagate the risk of these more infectious variants spreading globally.
The global vaccine strategy prioritizes countries that can afford to pay for the vaccine. A small number of affluent countries have secured over half of the Covid-19 vaccine stock. Given the UK's high number of B117 variant infections, it seems fair to prioritize vaccine deployment in the UK.
The spread of B117 puts a greater demand on healthcare providers, particularly the UK's National Health Service. The emergence of this new strain is a considerable concern as it increases the likelihood of the virus infecting those for whom any form of Covid-19 infection is materially fatal.
In an effort to manage the spread of the B117 variant, the countries that received priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine were primarily those in Europe, especially Germany and other EU member states. The EU coordinated vaccine procurement and prioritization to manage the variant's spread during early 2021. Germany implemented vaccine prioritization but lifted it by June 2021.
There is a concern that the B117 variant will mutate into a more virulent strain. As the world continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of a global, equitable vaccine distribution strategy cannot be overstated.
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