ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE SPEED OF COVID-19 VAC-

CINATION AROUND THE WORLD

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as we know, has brought about a public health
emergency which affected the lives of millions of people internationally. The Philippines was not
excluded from this dreaded situation since it reported its first case in January 2020. Now that the
country has already reach over a million cases, immunization is considered as the most critical
solution to control the spread of COVID-19 infection. However, despite the intensified informa-
tion drive and ongoing rollout, factors both economic and social as mentioned in the research
journal remains a problem that affects the speed of COVID-19 Vaccination around the world.

The journal proves as explored, that there are several issues, which may be crucial in the
speed of COVID-19 Vaccination around the world which includes the variables used in the re-
search: Population Density, GDP per capita, Human Development Index, Political Regime, and
Vaccine Producer. It proves to be significant that we highlight these certain factors that may af-
fect the Covid-19 Vaccination speed in order to cope up with the problems that may arise from
these factors. From the study, it appears that not all potential predictors of vaccination rates are
equally important in the process. It highly depends on the investigated case, which factors have a
more significant role to play, which the research findings found out, the Population Density.
Considering all these issues and variables learned, it is necessary to be aware and pay attention to
the possible obstacles in the process of shaping the impact on efficacy and speed of COVID-19
Vaccination.

The paper explored and observed the variations in the vaccination efforts against
COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the whole world, especially the frontline worriers. To
get shielded through this war, the world is racing to reach and manufacture COVID-19 vaccines.
It was an unpredicted strike in which the whole world allied and armed with knowledge and dis-
cipline to battle over 485,506,170 confirmed cases and 6,156,484 deaths of COVID-19 cases un-
til now March 29, 2022 as reported by World Health Organization (WHO). Despite the global
preventive efforts (physical distancing, face mask, travel constraints, and quarantine) to contain
the infection, COVID-19 is continuing with its devastating consequences on health, life and eco-
nomics. The world’s hopes are attached to a successful preventive measure that is the vaccina-
tion which has proved its capability to stop infections and save lives over the years. Near the end
of 2020, several vaccines started to arise. There are about 100 candidate vaccines. Some are in
the clinical trial phases and few have already gained Emergency Use Authorization. The most
distributed 6 candidate vaccines are currently in the 3rd phase trial. They differ in composition,
storage requirements, and effectiveness. No serious adverse effects were reported from those
vaccines. As a result of a variability in COVID-19 vaccines, there are different directions, per-
ceptions, and attitudes toward the vaccine. Those differences symbolize challenges for govern-
ments and public health experts.

It is questioned whether population and population density affect vaccination efforts.

Population density, the first potential predictor mentioned is the concentration of individuals
within a species in a specific geographic locale. Data can be used to quantify demographic infor-
mation and to assess relationships with ecosystems, human health, and infrastructure. As a
new, apparently more transmissible version of the virus that causes COVID-19 has appeared in
several countries, new research finds that the transmissibility of viral strains and the population
density of a region will play big roles in how vaccination campaigns can help towns and cities
return to more normal activities. The findings suggest that directing vaccines toward densely
populated counties would help to interrupt transmission of the disease. It is best to try and under-
stand what the dynamics were very early in the pandemic. If we need a vaccination program in
place that lets people act normally, then we need to understand the state under those conditions.
Population density also predicted a considerable amount of the difference in the rate of viral
spread from country to country during the time period the researchers studied. Countries with
low or moderate density did not have high rates of infection spread, though lower transmission
rates do not necessarily protect a region from eventually seeing high case counts. Inhabitants ex-
plained an even greater fraction of the spread in the researchers findings. Populations within a
few hundred miles of one another had similar transmission rates. This regional similarity might
have been caused in part by similar public health responses in neighboring countries. Vaccina-
tion programs should consider potential spread rate in different areas. The main driver that will
be important as mentioned is density. Research should continue to delve deeper into the connec-
tions between vaccination rate and population density, as protecting dense populations is the key
to protecting the rural areas that are traditionally less open to vaccination. The research should
add more focus on social factors that lead to low vaccination rates and compare how they are re-
lated to population density to tease out where policies should be put in place to address concerns
and fears surrounding vaccination.

The journal also mentioned the variable GDP Per Capita. There is a need for both a top-
down and bottom-up approach; that is, a strong commitment, cooperation, and implementation of
plans among our scientific, industrial, and political leaders in conjunction with community mobi-
lization at the local levels. The important message driving these recommendations is that, given
that the COVID-19 pandemic has effects on a global scale, there is a need for a global response
instead of a one-region at a time high-income-countries-before-all others type of response to con-
trol the COVID19 pandemic. The wealthier nations will not be secured without adequately vacci-
nating the poor ones. Therefore, the global community should take initiatives to speed up the
COVID-19 vaccination program in all countries of the world, irrespective of their wealth. Also,
the journal indicates that a higher gross domestic product per capita is positively associated with
higher COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and this relationship becomes more robust over time.
However, some countries may have more successful vaccine distribution results regardless of
their gross domestic product. In addition, the potential indicator shows human development in-
dex does not have a significant relationship with vaccine distribution. Although countries with
high GDP vaccinated a considerable percentage of their residents, wider availability of the
COVID-19 vaccine in low GDP countries will play a vital role in achieving global immunity
against this deadly virus. Economic measures may be counted as a more vital indicator for vac-
cine distribution as they have a more direct relationship distribution with health infrastructure
than social measures such as human development index. The development of safe and effective
COVID-19 vaccines provides a clear path to bring the pandemic to an end. Vaccination rates,
however, have been insufficient to prevent disease spread. And though not clear, I believe in-
come level is an important factor.
Another critical factor in so many people choosing not to be vaccinated as mentioned, is
their political views, regime that have been aimed as possible triggers of mortality rate. I believe
the political regime should not be related to the spread of a disease but despite numerous studies,
results remain mixed at best. It is best to dig more basis and data why and under what conditions
we should expect politics to matter most with involvement to vaccination rates. Also, I believe it
is important that the vital step in reducing divisions is restoring trust in science and health ex-
perts. In countries with multiple political parties, it may be possible for different parties to join
forces to work for the common good, something that has been difficult to achieve. But regardless
of how difficult it is to achieve it is critical that continued efforts be made to restore trust in sci-
ence and health experts so that we can more effectively address the vital problems of today and
those that will emerge in years to come.

Apart from distributing more vaccines, it is also essential as what the aim of the research
journal, to ensure appropriate management of vaccines by addressing the contributing economic
and social factors affecting its speed. As a conclusion I believe, using existing resources can help
decrease the difficulties facing the target nations in the speed of COVID-19 vaccination and lead
the world closer to the end of this virus. Whilst there are clearly some areas of the research on
which to focus, areas like the political regime factor, GDP per capita that may cause unnecessary
concern given the lack of evidence supporting it at this stage, the research paper provided further
evidences for the potential predictors of Economic and Social Factors affecting the speed of
COVID-19 vaccination, that are now needed. I say this, since some current studies have deficien-
cies and are as yet not considered definitive. I am sure more robust studies will be urgently
started in differing parts of the world. However, I believe future studies should further consider
socio-cultural influences on vaccine distribution at individual levels.