On Wednesday, the World Health Organization announced that in 2021, an approximate 16 billion doses of vaccines, valued at $141 billion, were delivered.
This amount is nearly three times the market volume in 2019 (5.8 billion) and almost three-and-a-half times its worth ($38 billion).
In its initial data on the worldwide vaccine market released since the onset of COVID-19, the WHO made this statement on Wednesday.
The rise, according to the global health organization, was mainly driven by COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the remarkable capacity for scaling up vaccine production in response to medical requirements.
Though global manufacturing capability has expanded, it remains heavily concentrated, according to the report.
“Ten manufacturers alone supply 70 percent of vaccine doses (excluding COVID-19). Many of the top 20 most frequently used vaccines (such as PCV, HPV, measles, and rubella vaccines) currently depend significantly on just two suppliers.
“This concentrated manufacturing framework creates the risk of shortages as well as regional supply unpredictability. In 2021, the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions relied on manufacturers based in other locations for 90 percent of their acquired vaccines. Established intellectual property monopolies and restricted technology transfer additionally hinder the ability to establish and utilize local manufacturing capabilities.
“The condition of markets is also worrying for many of the vaccines commonly required for emergencies, such as those against cholera, typhoid, smallpox/monkeypox, Ebola, and meningococcal disease, where demand spikes during outbreaks and is therefore less predictable. Ongoing limited investment in these vaccines could have dire consequences for individuals’ lives,” it remarked.
The WHO indicated that despite recent progress, the dynamics of the global vaccine market are not fully conducive to the creation, supply, and accessibility of essential vaccines for public health.
The vaccines prioritized by WHO, it elaborated, are not being entirely developed or financed due to their low economic viability.
“Lower-income nations have found it challenging to access vital vaccines – such as against COVID-19 in 2021 and the cervical cancer vaccine – that are sought after by wealthier nations.
“Certain regions rely almost exclusively on others for their vaccine supply,” the WHO stated in a press release made accessible to our correspondent.
WHO urges ambitious measures from all stakeholders to ensure fair access to vaccines and enhance readiness for future pandemics.
“WHO’s Global Vaccine Market Report 2022, released today, reveals that inequitable distribution is not limited to COVID-19 vaccines, with poorer countries continually facing challenges in accessing vaccines that are prioritized by wealthier nations.
“Restricted vaccine supply and unequal allocation lead to global disparities. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine against cervical cancer has only been introduced in 41 percent of low-income nations, despite these countries representing a significant portion of the disease burden, in comparison to 83 percent of high-income nations.
“Affordability also poses a barrier to vaccine accessibility. While prices tend to vary according to income, price differences result in middle-income countries paying as much – if not more – than wealthier ones for several vaccine products,” it noted.
“The right to health encompasses the right to vaccines,” stated WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. “Yet, this new report indicates that free-market dynamics are depriving some of the world’s poorest and most at-risk populations of that right. WHO is advocating for necessary reforms in the global vaccine market to save lives, prevent illness, and prepare for future emergencies.”
The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) objectives and initiatives to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics are emphasized in the report as opportunities for enhanced synchronization of vaccine development, production, and distribution with a public health agenda.
“COVID-19 demonstrated that vaccines can be developed and disseminated swiftly, with a process traditionally taking an average of ten years but compressed to 11 months. The pandemic also highlighted the long-standing necessity to view vaccines as a fundamental and cost-effective public good rather than merely a commodity.
“To stimulate decisive action for equitable vaccine access, the report urges governments to pursue: clear immunization plans and increased investment along with firmer oversight of vaccine development, production and distribution; regional research and manufacturing hubs; and pre-arranged guidelines for governmental collaboration during periods of scarcity involving issues such as vaccine allocation, intellectual property and the movement of inputs and goods.
“Proposed measures for the industry include: concentrating research efforts on WHO priority pathogens, ensuring transparency, facilitating technology transfer, and committing to specific allocation measures focused on equity. International organizations and partners should prioritize the Immunization Agenda 2030 goals, support country-led initiatives, and advocate for the implementation of resolutions regarding market transparency,” it added.
