Although 1 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide, only 0.2% have gone to people in low-income countries, writes the Economist, citing figures from Agence France-Presse. Their Economist Intelligence Unit worries that Russia and China are helping poor countries secure doses and are thereby bolstering their global standing, improving bilateral relations, and gaining strategic influence.
But the Economist is able to see the silver lining: with so many exports, Russia and China are vaccinating their own populations slowly, at a rate of about 0.2 shots per 100 people per day, compared with a rate of approximately 1 shot per 100 people in the United States.
