A two-track pandemic happens when vaccines are inequitably distributed around the world, causing high-income countries to lift restrictions while low–income countries face dangerous case counts and fatalities.

In a video released on June 7 (https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/europe/100000007802861/world-health-organization-vaccines-coronavirus-pandemic.html ), the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called for an equitable global distribution of vaccines. High-income countries have administered 44% of the world’s vaccine supply. Low-income countries have administered 0.4% of the supply. If most of the world is not vaccinated soon, there is a greater risk of variants developing.

Dr. Ghebreyesus has called for 10% of all countries' populations to be vaccinated by September, and 30% by the end of this year. In order to reach these numbers, programs like COVAX must be supported with full force.

At the beginning of the pandemic, higher–income countries had higher fatality rates. Now, lower-income countries are facing a crisis. When vaccines became available, high-income countries were able to buy more, which shifted the course of the pandemic.

WHO and COVAX have now called on countries like Canada to give extra doses to other countries. Intellectual property laws create obstacles for these types of programs. If only a few manufacturers have the license to produce vaccines, distribution is made far more difficult.

On June 13, Trudeau announced a donation of 13 million doses, as well as funding for 87 million doses to be produced (https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1904654915692). The U.S. has announced a donation of 500 million doses. To vaccinate 70% of the world’s population, we will need at least 11 billion doses.

Before travelling this summer, make sure your destination is safe and has the infrastructure to protect and care for the health of residents. Travel locally if you can, and follow all health guidelines. Get fully vaccinated (if possible), wear a mask, and keep distanced, because the pandemic is not over.