The world is looking for a vaccine to get rid of the coronavirus epidemic. Although no vaccine has been approved so far, there is competition among rich countries to buy advance vaccines. This unequal competition has raised concerns about ensuring that all people in poor and middle-income countries receive vaccines.
No effective coronavirus vaccine has yet arrived, but rich countries are buying billions of doses in advance at the testing stage.
According to a recent report by the charity Oxfam, rich countries have purchased 51 percent of potential vaccine production capacity.
But only 13 percent of the world's population lives in those countries.
Oxfam warns that two-thirds, or 61 percent, of the world's population will not be able to get the vaccine before 2022, even if the five leading vaccines discovered are successful.
Oxfam warns that this could happen even if the five vaccines that have been discovered are proven to be safe and successful.
In a speech at the beginning of the ongoing UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General described the separate agreement on vaccines as unjust, citing vaccine nationalism. "Everyone is safe from the coronavirus unless everyone is safe," he said.
Hundreds of vaccines are being studied in labs around the world at the moment, but there are 40 vaccines at the human trial stage. 10 vaccines are being tested on large populations in the third phase, of which China and Russia have allowed limited use of 5 vaccines.
ICDDRB's Emeritus Scientist and member of the World Health Organization's Scientific Advisory Committee on Vaccines, Dr. Ferdousi Qadri told the BBC in an interview,
"But there will be a lot of competition to get the vaccine. Gavi, Sepi, WHO have built the Covax facility anticipating this competition."
"If we think of H1N1 which happened pandemic ten years ago. But we didn't get the vaccine there. Because the vaccine that was made there went to developed countries. We got some doses much later then there was no need."
"For that, I think that although many efforts are being made, Bangladesh will remain in this competition. Because the production of vaccines will not be 100%."