Covid-19 vaccine strategies and nationalism

THERE is a clear and present threat that an additional 0.4% to 2% of the world’s population will die by the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the crisis shows no signs of abating, there is an international scramble for vaccines that has been complicated by nationalism and geopolitical tensions.

Two crucial issues with vaccines are effectiveness and safety. The SARCov2 virus belongs to a family of viruses that commonly mutates, thus making an effective vaccine for Covid-19 is difficult.