Is vaccine equity possible? Reflections from the United Kingdom, as an island state, with a strong health system. : WestminsterResearch

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Chapter title	Is vaccine equity possible? Reflections from the United Kingdom, as an island state, with a strong health system.
Authors	Keith, R.
Editors	Kevany, S. and Kirk, A.
Abstract	Despite having a strong health system with essential services free at the point of access, the United Kingdom has struggled to continue essential routine health care whilst tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in long backlogs which will require extra resources to tackle. The WHO states that 90% of countries have reported health service disruption, including reduced coverage of routine vaccinations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic reaching populations with an effective vaccine requires functioning health systems or vaccination campaigns. Research indicates that there are five priority areas: (1) Investing in the training, recruitment, retention, protection, and vaccination of health workers. (2) Surveillance (testing and tracing). We need to know where the virus is circulating and implement public health measures to protect the most vulnerable populations, including health workers. This requires testing systems that are rapid, and free for all, so that we can halt preventable deaths by preventing transmission. If workers must isolate themselves, they need to have their jobs and salaries protected to ensure compliance. (3) Effective cold chain system, Vaccines require chilled transport to vaccination sites and chilled storage at these sites, to ensure they are still active. (4) Equity To ensure that people will not delay in seeking testing and healthcare, these services need to be considered public health priorities and be offered free to all at the point of access. Research in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi demonstrates that when populations must pay for these services, at point of access, the poorest do not seek care, whilst others are pulled into poverty to pay for healthcare. (5) Active community engagement and trust We have seen what happens when we do not invest in effective health systems and when we do not value our health workers. Vaccine equity comprises more than giving vaccines to the poor; it is about global health solidarity.
Keywords	Vaccines
	COVID 19
	Right to Health
	Lack of Health workers
	Weak health systems
	Equity
Book title	Outbreaks epidemics and Health Security: COVID-19 and ensuring future pandemic preparedness in Ireland and the world
Page range	150-155
Year	2023
Publisher	Elsevier
Published in print	2023
Published	23 Sep 2022
Place of publication	London, UK
ISBN	9780323917056
	9780323985673

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Is vaccine equity possible? Reflections from the United Kingdom, as an island state, with a strong health system.

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