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One year ago the first cases of Covid-19 were being reported in a handful of countries around the world. International borders were still open, and millions of people were still traveling for business and recreation.
One year later, the Covid-19 pandemic has completely reshaped the world and our lifestyles. Everyone has had to adapt to the “new normal”. Cities have gone into (multiple) lockdown(s), schools have had to adapt to remote learning, and it has become difficult to travel.
Several vaccines have been approved for use and many countries have started vaccinating their citizens. More than 150 million doses have been administered around the world and millions of dosses keep being administered every day. Israel is leading the way, having vaccinated more than 40% of their population and plans to vaccinate the entire population by the end of March 2021, and the UK has vaccinated nearly 20% of its population, with plans to vaccinate all adults by Autumn 2021.
👇 Scroll down to see our comparative table of Covid vaccination rollout strategies.
Public Health departments in each country have their own challenges to face - including setting priorities for the Covid vaccination rollout (who gets vaccinated first), procuring the vaccines, and planning mass immunisation programs.
Most countries are prioritising the administration of the vaccines to the elderly, those living in long term care facilities, adults with underlying medical conditions and vulnerable groups such as healthcare workers and social care workers. They are utilising large scale vaccination sites such as sports stadiums, hospital hubs and additional support fromteams of GP’s.
The table below shows a comparison of the Covid vaccination rollout strategies from a sample of countries.
| Country | Vaccination priority groups | Approved vaccines | Timeline to get the population vaccinated | % Population vaccinated (as of February 2021) |
|
Israel |
- Healthcare workers - Teachers - Adults with medical conditions - Elderly (60+) |
- Moderna - Pfizer |
End of March 2021 (everyone 16+) |
42.58% |
| UAE | - UAE nationals and their household workers - Senior citizens (60+) - People of determination (special needs) - Those with comorbidities - Workers in health and education centres |
- AstraZeneca - Pfizer - Sinopharm - Sputnik V |
70% of the population by the end of 2021 | 8.46% (Jan 10) |
| UK | - Elderly (70+) - Frontline and social care workers |
- AstraZeneca - Pfizer |
All adults by Autumn 2021 (September-November) | 19.24% |
| USA | - Elderly (65+) - Those with medical conditions (16+) |
- AstraZeneca - Pfizer |
Expect to cover 75% of the population by the end of 2021 | 10.10% |
| Italy | - Elderly (60+) - Adults with comorbidities - Health care and social care workers |
- Moderna - AstraZeneca - Pfizer |
End of December 2021 | 2.53% |
| Germany | - Elderly (60+) - Adults with comorbidities - Health care workers |
- Moderna - AstraZeneca - Pfizer |
2022 | 2.87% |
| France | - Elderly (75+) - Care givers (50+) |
- Moderna - AstraZeneca - Pfizer |
End of August 2021 | 2.93% |
| Sweden | - Elderly (70+) - Risk groups with comorbidities - Healthcare workers |
- AstraZeneca - Pfizer |
End of June 2021 | 3.14% |
| Singapore | - Healthcare and frontline workers - Elderly (70+) - Adults with comorbidities |
- Pfizer | End of 2021 | 4.27% |
| Denmark | - Elderly (65+) - Adults with comorbidities - Health care and social care workers |
- Moderna - Pfizer |
July 2021 | 3.51% |
| Russia | - Elderly (60+) | - Sputnik V | Mid 2022 | 0.69% *doses administered per 100 people |
| China | - Ages 18-59 years old - Workers handling cold-chain products - Workers at cargo ports - Transportation workers - Health workers - Staff at border ports - Public security officers, firefighters and community workers - Workers at utility companies - Those who work in logistics, elderly care, sanitation and cremation and burial industries |
- Sinopharm |
End 2022 | 2.82% *doses administered per 100 people |
The Thai government has approved the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines for use in Thailand. The national rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to start in mid-February, with plans to vaccinate 50% of the population by the end of 2021. Healthcare and front-line workers, along with those with higher infection risks will be prioritised during the first phase of the rollout.
According to the Bangkok Post, the vaccine will be free in Thailand for Thai nationals. Private firms importing the vaccine can give access to locals who can afford it and foreigners living in Thailand.
Sources:
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Our World in Data, Coronavirus (Covid) Vaccinations
Bangkok Post
BBC News
Bloomberg
Israeli Ministry of Health
National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China
UK Department of Health & Social Care
