Global COVID-19 Access Tracker

Countries need support to vaccinate their highest risk groups

  • The top priority is to protect highest risk people with primary series and boosters
  • Countries need support resolving unique bottlenecks, most commonly demand-side and health workforce challenges
  • ACT-A requires additional funding to address these challenges

Top priority 1

Vaccinate highest-risk people

For greatest impact and equity it is crucial to prioritize vaccinating highest risk groups (healthcare workers and the elderly), as well as pregnant and immunocompromised groups.

Primary series coverage

About 17% of highest risk people globally need to be vaccinated.

Elderly

82%

Health workers

86%

Target

100%

Sources: COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership, Data & Analytics. Note that it is difficult to get accurate counts of total health and care workers in many countries. Currently 61 out of 156 countries report data indicating 100% of the HCW population are vaccinated. Thus the data should be interpreted with some caution.

Top priority 2

Vaccinate people in low and low-middle income countries

Low- and low-middle income countries are 55% vaccinated. Upper-middle and high income countries are 77% vaccinated.

Primary series coverage

Low income

27%

Lower middle income

61%

Upper middle income

77%

High income

75%

Sources: WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. Includes data for 226 reporting countries.

How to proceed

First, we need to support countries’ efforts to increase demand and improve their health workforces

Step 1

Identify key bottlenecks

68% of countries reported either of these as key bottlenecks:

Demand-side challenges

Health workforce challenges

Step 2

Improve country readiness

Doses can be delivered only after countries report being ready to accept them. 5 billion doses are currently secured and waiting to be shipped.

Step 3

Accelerate vaccination rates

Continue to support low and lower middle income countries to increase the number of people they vaccinate in order to reach their own national targets.

Sources: WHO Essential Health Survey Round 3 (November - December 2021), COVAX COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership, Data & Analytics

Country-reported bottlenecks

Each country faces unique challenges to ensuring vaccine access, but demand and health workforce challenges were the most common critical bottlenecks reported.

Demand-side challenges

Needs better risk communication and community engagement strategies

58%

Health workforce challenges

Needs more recruitment, retention, training

35%

Lack of funding

28%

Shortages in vaccines and equipment

18%

Lack of clear strategy, guidance, or protocols

17%

Lack of distribution capacity

12%

Sources: WHO Essential Health Survey Round 3 (November - December 2021). Includes data for 95 reporting countries.

Next step

Close the funding gap

$1.85 billion in funding is still needed

Funding would be used toward relieving bottlenecks around demand challenges, health workforce challenges and much more. For a complete view, see the ACT-Accelarator Strategic Plan & Budget.

69%

Funding secured

$1.85 Bn

More funding needed

Sources: ACT-A Commitment Tracker; ACT-A Strategic Plan & Budget (Oct 2021 - Sep 2022)

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