The nationalistic response to COVID-19 vaccine distribution — Bernadette Bresee
By Bernadette Bresee
Nationalism Across Countries
Low-income countries are projected to start vaccinating their most vulnerable populations for COVID-19 years after the wealthiest nations have vaccinated their entire population three times over, an issue referred to as "vaccinationalism". To best understand “vaccinationalism”, or the approach of COVID-19 vaccine distribution through a nationalistic lens, one must understand that nationalism is defined as loyalty and devotion to a nation, emphasizing this nation’s culture, people, and principles above all others. Manufacturing challenges and funding for vaccine creation help explain what countries are getting the jab first. But the global shift away from the liberal-democratic model towards populism and nationalism may best explain vaccine "hoarding". The World Health Organization has called this phenomenon a "catastrophic moral failure", with healthy young people in high-income nations being vaccinated before high-risk populations in low-income countries. But the global shift away from the liberal-democratic model towards populism and nationalism is likely contributing to vaccine hoarding and threatens to undermine global efforts to conquer the virus.
Vaccine hoarding may represent the self-preservationist tendencies of inclusive isolation and nationalism, but is anti-globalist and leads to unequal distribution within nations. Much like inclusive versus exclusive nationalism, isolation and globalism have their own unique opportunities for progress or harm.
Experts agree that worldwide solidarity is required for 70% of the global population achieving global immunity, which is required to end the pandemic according to WHO, and many nations agreed to a commitment to equity through COVAX. Inclusive nationalism--- shared language, achievements, etc. that affects every member within one nation regardless of identity--can be considered a beneficial form of nationalism when it leads to nations preserving their own safety through gathering enough vaccine doses for their entire population. However, high-income countries within the European Union, as well as Canada, the UK, and the US, are securing more than their fair share of vaccinations, which means that the projected year for low-income nations to start vaccinations is 2024. Wealthy nations are negotiating extra vaccine doses to the point where nations accounting for 13% to 15% of the global population have bought 53% of the most promising eight vaccines.
These same wealthy, vaccinated nations are already traveling again, and it is still unclear whether vaccinated individuals can be asymptomatic carriers and continue to spread the virus. One of the unique dangers of this strain of coronavirus is its ability to rapidly mutate, with five new international variants detected in the US. Disparities abound in terms of how developing countries are faring: African countries are faring better than expected (and reports lower death rates than seemingly better-prepared continents, like North America and Europe), while the catastrophic situation in India may lead to a delayed vaccination campaign in Africa in order to vaccinate India’s own population. However, Africa fared better partially because of their comparatively more isolated populations than the rest of the world, giving African governments more time to prepare at the beginning of the pandemic. Approaching vaccine distribution from a nationalistic mindset with the intention to end this pandemic creates the same unsustainable tragedy of the commons as mask-wearing or social distancing -- it works best when the majority of people, in this case, the majority of the world, is able to participate.
Nationalism trends in the U.S.
Furthermore, while appropriating a surplus of vaccines for a nation is beneficial for their entire population, many of these countries are based on exclusive -- often white -- nationalism, which creates distribution disparities within these high-income nations. Exclusive nationalism is based on the interests of one overrepresented group’s identity, instead of in the idea of furthering the prospects for the entire nation and all of its members (which is the result of a more inclusive form of nationalism). Exclusive nationalism and reactionary politics are centuries-old problems that in many cases have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Indigenous, Black, and Pacific Islander Americans have the highest death rates related to COVID-19 in the US, and political dog whistles under the guise of economic and health insecurity have led to an increase in violence against the Asian and Black American communities specifically, with similar trends being seen in Canada and Europe. Subsequently, BIPOC are receiving their vaccines more slowly and at lower rates due to mistrust and access issues, a result of historically exclusive White nationalism. Some wealthy people are using their status to skip the line for the vaccine eligibility process in the US and receive the first doses. Furthermore, our vaccines will need to be updated if the virus continues to mutate. The longer vulnerable populations at home and especially abroad are unvaccinated, the more likely this pandemic will continue.
While the final groups of unvaccinated individuals in wealthy nations are being coaxed with sports tickets and donuts, the refusal to view vaccinations from a globalist perspective and ensure expeditious universal vaccination timelines will ultimately prolong the pandemic.