Alternatives: When maximizing profit endangers our humanity: vaccines and the enduring legacy of colonialism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Issue 1 (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fallah, Mosoka P.; Ali, S. Harris
• Is Part Of: Studies in political economy. Volume 103:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- public health security -- vaccine hesitancy -- vaccine imperialism -- vaccine nationalism; Economics -- Political aspects -- Periodicals; Socialism -- Periodicals; Economics -- Periodicals; Canada -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Economie politique -- Périodiques; Canada -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; Economic history; Economics; Canada; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 330
• DOI: 10.1080/07078552.2022.2047475
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0707-8552

Abstract

Abstract: The inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines that we see today must be situated within the historical context of colonialism, global capitalism, and the othering of the Global South. The effects of these structural factors have resulted in an exclusive preoccupation with profitmaking through vaccine manufacturing at the expense of humanitarian concern. The deliberate neglect in the vaccination of those in the Global South will enable the virus to survive and mutate in marginalized parts of the world. Notably, in our globally-connected world, this neglect will provide opportunities for new variants to flourish and spread, thus contributing to the likely emergence of new pandemic threats in the future. This paper is part of the SPE Theme on the Political Economy of COVID-19.