It’s unlikely South Africa will have a substantial number of vaccines until the second half of this year. Most of the vaccines produced in Europe or America have been bought by other countries.
Massive vaccine distribution efforts take a lot of coordination. The rollout of the Salk polio vaccine in the US in 1955 holds lessons for those delivering COVID-19 shots today.
The best approach for protecting everyone’s health will require us to provide different vaccines to different people according to need and availability.
Despite the latest tweaks to border testing rules, the risk of imported infection remains very high. NZ’s wider response needs upgrading —including reducing the large numbers of infected returnees.
A waiver on some intellectual property rules at the WTO for COVID-19 vaccines would ensure more equitable access, but wouldn’t solve all the problems facing developing countries.
The shipment of goods to suppliers has become technologically sophisticated. Delays in getting out the COVID-19 vaccine to people show that the breakdowns come down to something more basic.
Australia’s expedited plan to start dishing out COVID jabs in mid-late February will call for NASA-like logistical organisation. And ideally, no more clusters of infections to distract frontline workers.
Researchers say around 70% of the US needs to get the coronavirus vaccine to stop the pandemic. But questions around the vaccines and regional differences add some uncertainty to that estimate.
Black people are skeptical about the new vaccines for many reasons. If public health leaders told the full story, maybe there’d be a higher chance that Black people would want to take the vaccine.
Lana Dbeibo, Indiana University School of Medicine
Now that two COVID vaccines have been authorized by the FDA, questions arise. Today, a physician from Indiana University School of Medicine answers five reader questions.
A serious allergic reaction was reported in a health care worker in Alaska after she received the COVID-19 vaccine. Does this mean that people with allergies need to be concerned? An expert answers.
Experts from across The Conversation assess the work that’s helped us reach vaccine roll-out, how this could play out, and the risk of vaccine hesitancy.
Paediatrician at the Royal Childrens Hospital and Associate Professor and Clinician Scientist, University of Melbourne and MCRI, Murdoch Children's Research Institute