Survey shows stark inequality in vaccination rate between countries

88% of countries which had started vaccinating nurses are high or upper-middle-income countries, according to ICN

GENEVA:

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) on Friday highlighted a "stark divide" in the vaccination rate of nurses between high- and low-income countries, as being shown in its latest survey published on Friday.

According to the ICN, among 54 countries and regions surveyed, "88 per cent which had started vaccinating nurses are high or upper-middle-income countries."

On the other hand, among the eight lower-income countries surveyed in Africa, "none had started vaccinating their nurses" with many Nursing Associations reporting that in such countries "they did not have information when the (vaccine) rollout would begin".

The ICN warned that lack of vaccine equality between high- and low-income countries and regional disparities "risk propagating the spread of new variants of the virus".

Furthermore, as ICN Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton said in a media statement, "we can now confirm that more than 2,700 nurses have made the ultimate sacrifice," speaking of healthcare workers who died of Covid-19.

That number, however, is only indicative, as "the true number of deaths for healthcare workers is likely to be in the tens of thousands," Catton said.

"The risk remains high and imminent for healthcare workers and this is why ICN is again calling for them to be prioritised globally for vaccination, to protect them, and our health systems," he said.