As public health authorities, patients, and manufacturers applaud the fast development and production of billions of doses of innovative vaccines against COVID-19, the campaign continues to extend global access to the life-saving preventives. The “America first” vaccination and treatment policy of the United States through the initial 18 months of the outbreak generated loud criticism from international health organizations and patient advocates. The emergence of the omicron variant, moreover, has demonstrated clearly the global nature of the pandemic and the critical importance of expanded vaccination in Africa and other regions to control COVID-19 in all regions.
