Unilateralism and the Challenges of Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution in Africa: A theoretical Discourse

Abstract

The study examines how the unilateral actions of States regarding purchase and distribution of Covid-19 vaccine undermined Africa’s effort to effectively secure the vaccine for its citizens. The study hypothesised that due to unilateral decisions and actions of great powers, Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Africa has been grossly inequitable, viz a vis that of Asia, Europe and America. Unilateralism and Vaccine Nationalism on one hand; and Multilateralism and Cosmopolitanism on the other hand are two broad categories of theories used to unearth the philosophical foundations of States’ actions regarding the acquisition and distribution of covid-19 vaccine. Documentary method of data collection from secondary sources was adopted to gather relevant data for the study; while qualitative descriptive method was used to analyse the data obtained. The study therefore concludes and recommends that Africa needs to rely on Africa to proffer solutions to its problems without relying so much on external powers. To do this, African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) must be strengthened financially and materially to deal with not just covid-19, but future viral pandemics that the continent might be entangled in.