Introduction
When COVID-19 came unexpectedly, individuals and nations were not prepared. Everybody’s response to the pandemic was different, and this brought many changes in people’s lives. The pandemic changed people’s ways of life, how they behave, how they respond to uncertainties, and how they budget. Different authors started to study human beings’ lives since COVID. This paper summarizes three articles and compares the authors’ views on COVID.
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in low- and middle-income countries
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the globe to a certain degree, with some areas facing higher death rates than others. Human safety has been a priority, thus, contributing to the development of a vaccine to help control the spread of the coronavirus in conjunction with prevention techniques that were embraced, like self-isolation and social distancing. The vaccine distribution is still unequal across the globe, with other countries reluctant as they question the safety and side effects associated with the vaccines (Arce et al., 2021). Most of these countries are the Low-Middle Income Countries, LMICs, which spread across Europe, Africa, Asia, and partly, America. The acceptance and hesitancy of the vaccine are tied to the economic level of LMICs. It is reported that the death cases of COVID-19 are relatively lower in LMICs as compared to high-income countries. Alternatively, the acceptance rate for childhood vaccines for diseases like measles, pertussis (DTP), and tetanus is generally higher.
Economist – Income Inequality and COVID-19
The COVID-19 virus has been affiliated with higher death rates for the elderly. However, some studies suggest that the death rate is related to economic inequality in different countries. Youyang Gu, a data scientist, identifies income inequality, population density, and home medication as the paramount factors that have non-zero coefficients to state-level deaths and COVID-19 (The Economist, 2021). Furthermore, a study by Tan, Hinman, and Magid of Stanford University reveals higher income inequality lowers life expectancy, thus, leading to suffering and higher mortality rates (The Economist, 2021). Pre-existing health in a country corresponds to a governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic. People in severe health conditions before the pandemic responded negatively, thus, a rise in the mortality rate. Providing equal opportunities in most of the LMICs could not be transformed over the short term during the onset of COVID-19. However, nations can consider equality by improving children’s health to protect future generations.
Worldview
Mortality rates over the past decade have significantly increased from tropical diseases like malaria. However, minimal efforts and collaboration have been shown to eliminate these tropical diseases, as compared to the coronavirus, which causes an alarming rate of mortality in different parts of the world. Several world organizations, nations, and research institutions collaborated to fight COVID-19. What if the same effort could be made for the small tropical disease? (What if Tropical Diseases Had as Much Attention as COVID?, 2020) Even the African countries that have depended on grants budgeted to reduce the spread of the virus and place measures to tackle the infection. Research institutions, nationally and internationally, need to set up their responsibility to ensure the safety of all individuals.
Conclusion
The first and second article reflects that COVID-19 greatly impacted LMICs, which have higher income inequality. Furthermore, the first article highlights the acceptance and hesitancy of these countries to vaccines due to poor healthcare conditions. The economic levels in the LMICs do not provide equal opportunities, thus, reporting significant death rates. The third article explains how African countries budgeted on their low income to curb the spread of COVID-19. The effectiveness shown in such times can be used to counter tropical diseases like Malaria that result in increased death rates. The second article points out that COVID-19 is associated with higher deaths for the elderly, with some countries experiencing higher mortality rates than others. The authors concede that through the collaboration of institutions and nations, a vaccine was developed to curb the spread of COVID-19. The articles talk about taking care of children through equity in the distribution of vaccines to protect future generations. LMICs were hesitant to receive vaccines but budgeted for research to improve healthcare resources during COVID-19.
References
Arce, J. S. S., Warren, S. S., Meriggi, N. F., Scacco, A., McMurry, N., Voors, M., Syunyaev, G., Malik, A. A., Aboutajdine, S., Adeojo, O., Anigo, D., Armand, A., Asad, S., Atyera, M., Augsburg, B., Awasthi, M., Ayesiga, G. E., Bancalari, A., Nyqvist, M. B.,… Omer, S. B. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in low- and middle-income countries. Nature. Web.
The Economist. (2021). Why have some places suffered more covid-19 deaths than others? The Economist. Web.
What if tropical diseases had as much attention as COVID? (2020b). Nature. Web.