The varying levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability range from 90-50% across countries, which further plagues the timeline to reach herd immunity and bring an end to the pandemic. 

With Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccinations underway, low- to middle-income countries placing bets on the successful rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

It is estimated that around 18 billion doses will be required to immunise the global population. By the end of 2021, Frost & Sullivan predicts that close to 4.12 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses will be delivered globally to immunise priority target groups, namely healthcare workers, adults above the age of 65, and adults with co-morbidities. 

A partnership between the developed and developing economies is required in the prevention, detection, containment, and cure of an infectious disease pandemic.

Key Implications for a Successful Global COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in 2021:

• Local manufacturing deals and partnerships in a small population and developing countries with strong fill and finish capabilities, storage capacities would be needed to progressively export to other countries. 

• Investments in exemplary supply-chain and robust cold-chain network which involves building capabilities for direct shipment to the point of use, local cross-docking of cooling boxes, and local warehousing. 

• Post-market surveillance and management activities post-vaccine administration will be the need of the hour. 

• Increased marketing, education, and activism are needed to overcome unwillingness and increase general acceptance towards vaccine uptake. 

• Accelerating the development of effective COVID-19 therapeutics alongside vaccines is necessary to contain the pandemic. 

Unmesh Lal, Industry Principal, Transformational Health Practice, Frost & Sullivan