As large swaths of populations in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, many less wealthy countries have been crushed by new mutations of the virus, growing infection rates, and swelling death tolls. To date, high-income countries have purchased more than 50% of the global COVID-19 vaccine supply, compared to 9% in lower–income countries. Earthjustice is calling on the governments of wealthy nations to commit to deploying urgently needed medical supplies and providing equitable development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally.

The following is a statement from Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has collectively taken a heavy toll on the world over the past year. No country has escaped the sting of economic loss and death. The burden has been a global one, and the solution must also be global. In the United States, we have seen how marginalized communities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. This problem is also occurring at a global scale, and the impacts extend to entire nations. As more people in wealthy countries are vaccinated, we cannot forget those within our borders and abroad who do not have the same access to the lifesaving technology and medicine that will ultimately end this pandemic.

“We applaud the Biden administration’s shipment of coronavirus aid to India, and we call on the U.S. government and other wealthy nations of the world to commit to providing more vaccines, funding, and other resources to help those suffering disproportionately in India, South America, and elsewhere. We will only emerge from the pandemic acting as one global community.”