COVID-19 vaccines: Access in low and middle-income countries

On May 6th Haller Lake neighbor Debbie Atherly shared work being done to bring COVID-19 vaccines to low and middle-income countries. No one is safe until everyone is safe!

Debbie is a trained pharmacist and economist. She is the Global Head of Policy, Access, and Introduction at PATH Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access.  It is awesome to hear from a Haller Lake neighbor who is doing such important, impressive work! 

The video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/nmNSCf5Qc6E. It was really nice to think about the world at large.  COVID has made us hyper-focused on the immediate world around us. It was nice to think beyond our city limits.

A few key takeaways from the talk:


  • Reported COVID cases in Africa and some other developing countries are low.  This could be due to lack of testing, underreporting or immunity from previously circulated corona viruses.
  • Vaccination rates vary widely by country. 
  • PATH is trying to reduce the gap from when vaccines are widely available in rich countries compared to poor countries.  Recent successes have been seen.
  • COVAX was formed to bring COVID vaccine to low and middle income countries.  It is funded by money from the US, EU, UK, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CEPI, Brazil, etc.
  • Ghana was the first county to get COVID vaccine through the COVAX program in late February.  They received AstraZeneca. Several other countries received vaccine in the few weeks that followed.
  • Some challenges of vaccinating in poor and middle income countries are:
    • Vaccine skepticism
    • Vaccine programs for adults.  In many countries vaccines are just given to children. 
    • Misinformation 
    • Skepticism if COVID is prevalent in their area since reported rates are low
    • Financing  and other distribution logistics

Attendees asked many great questions which can be heard in the recording.  Thank you to Debbie for sharing her expertise with us! 




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