2021 Year-End Global Vaccination Goal Results

Almost as soon as the pandemic began, the world's leading health organizations joined forces to ensure an ample supply of the vaccines for all nations regardless of income level. The program they created is known as COVAX – short for the COVID-19 Global Access Facility. The program pre-purchased doses from manufacturers while the vaccines were still being developed, then distributed them to countries according to their need and charge according to their ability to pay. As 2021 came to a close, the vast majority of people in lower income countries remain unvaccinated. In the lower-income countries that qualify for free or highly subsidized vaccines from COVAX, "the average vaccination rate is closer to 20% than 40% right now." Learn more from NPR here.