Vaccination Made For All, Must Be For All

CADIENTE, Elijah Marie P.
Z54
Vaccination: Made for All, Must be for All
Most individuals are encouraged to safeguard themselves from various diseases through the use
of vaccines. With the current pandemic at hand, many consider vaccines as the primary and best source of
protection. It works alongside our immune system, and prevents outbreaks of diseases. Indeed,
vaccination is an essential component of health care. Every person, regardless of the status, deserves
equal access to vaccines.
However, apart from disrupting the daily flow of our lives, the pandemic also exposed the gap
between a developing and developed country. For instance, two years into the pandemic, fewer than 15%
of people in low-income have had at least one dose of a vaccine, whereas in some high-income countries,
people are being offered fourth doses (“Time Is Running Out for COVID Vaccine Patent Waivers,” 2022).
Thus, these statistics provide support for the bitter truth that even amidst a global health crisis, capitalism
and the businesses’ thirst for income prevail. In truth, according to data gathered from the Center for
Global Development, richer nations have vaccinated people against COVID-19 at a rate faster than for
any previous disease (“Time Is Running Out for COVID Vaccine Patent Waivers,” 2022).
With this at hand, it is only fitting therefore that both the government and private sectors should
work together for a better purpose. Particularly, for the private sectors, they should align themselves with
the citizens by having affordable prices. Furthermore, companies should not monopolize the production of
vaccines to make it accessible for everyone. For Yamey (2020), “To let a coronavirus vaccine be
monopolized by the rich will perpetuate the unjust economy of outbreaks, where the poor will always pay
the heaviest price.”
Apart from this, private sectors can also support the removal of patent policies in vaccines in
some instances such as a global health crisis. Patent policies are essential for it prevents the infringement
of technological access (How Patents Influence Access to Vaccines, 2022). However, it limits the
production of vaccines. Although resolvable, this issue touches on the essence of life and how much value
we put to it. While the removal of patent policies can affect the income of the patent owner, the life of an
individual still has a heavier weight to it. Moreover, it will only be for specific instances, such as that of a
global pandemic.
Additionally, governments can also help through making investments in the industry of science
and technology. Apart from research, governments can reinforce public trust in policy through scientific
advice. It is also essential for the government to renew their policy frameworks and capabilities to push
for a more innovative policy agenda in relation to science.
In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines in general should be accessible to everyone. The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 25 states that, “Everyone has the right to a standard of
living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of
unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances
beyond his control.” Capitalism and profits have a crucial role in making the world go round, but it is a
different story when it comes to a matter of life and death.
References
Governance of science, technology and innovation for crisis and recovery. (n.d.). OECDiLibrary.
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/e312da6a-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/
e312da6a-en
How patents influence access to vaccines. (2022, May 3). World Economic Forum.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/04/how-patents-can-improve-access-to-vaccines
Time is running out for COVID vaccine patent waivers. (2022). Nature, 603(7903), 764–764.
https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00878-x
United Nations. (n.d.). Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Vaccines and immunization. (2019, October 29).

https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization

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CADIENTE, Elijah Marie P.

Vaccination: Made for All, Must be for All

United Nations. (n.d.). Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Vaccines and immunization. (2019, October 29).

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