Nearly 3m more lives could be saved in next pandemic if vaccines are shared more fairly, says report
Move would mean deaths would rise in wealthier nations, according to NUS-Lancet Prime commission – which modelled a response to a flu pandemic based on population size, not purchasing power An extra 2.7 million lives could be saved in the next pandemic if countries share vaccines in a less selfish way, a new study has found – although the death toll in richer countries would rise. Researchers…
An additional 2.7 million lives could potentially be saved in the next pandemic if vaccines are distributed more equitably, according to a new report by the NUS-Lancet Prime commission. However, this approach would lead to a rise in deaths in wealthier nations from 2.4 million to 3.9 million. The study, which models a hypothetical flu pandemic based on population size rather than purchasing power, found that fast-tracking vaccine development could cut total deaths from 58.5 million to 23.9 million.
The commission, comprised of experts from various sectors, emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive, society-wide approach to pandemic preparedness. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, co-chair of the commission, highlights the importance of cooperation and solidarity in saving lives. Boosting confidence in vaccines could reduce the death toll by an additional 1.9 million.
The report also stresses the necessity of strengthening regional research and manufacturing capacity to ensure vaccines and treatments reach those who need them first.
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