Paris (AFP)

The slow deployment of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign could lead to a loss of 2.3 trillion dollars in global GDP over the next three years, calculated a study published on Wednesday.

According to the research center The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) author of the study, "the countries which will have vaccinated less than 60% of their population by mid-2022 will register a total loss of GDP of 2.300 billion dollars , over the period 2022-2025 ", ie a sum which roughly corresponds to the annual GDP of a country like France.

Two-thirds of these losses will be suffered by emerging countries, which will slow their economic catch-up with more developed countries, fuel poverty and increase the risk of social unrest in these areas, warns the EIU in its note.

Thus, over the period 2022-2025, the countries of sub-Saharan Africa are expected to lose 2.9% of GDP compared to forecasts due to the slowness of the vaccination campaign, against only 0.1% of loss of GDP. for Eastern European countries.

In volume, the Asia-Pacific region will be the most penalized by the slow vaccination, with 1.700 billion dollars in GDP losses, still over the same period.

Inequality in access to vaccines will also delay economic recovery in poor countries, which will take much longer to regain their pre-crisis levels than rich countries, predicts the EIU.

By the end of August, around 60% of the population in the richest countries had received at least one dose of the anti-Covid vaccine, compared to only 1% of people in poor countries, according to this study.

Two doses are needed for a complete vaccination.

For Agathe Demarais, director of global forecasts at the EIU and author of the study, there is "little chance" that the gap in access to vaccines will be "closed" because "despite flattering press releases, donations from rich countries cover only a fraction of the needs ".

Covid-19: vaccination around the world AFP

The international Covax system, intended to guarantee disadvantaged countries fair access to vaccines, "has failed", despite its "(modest) expectations", she added.

The EIU study was carried out in around 200 countries, examining forecasts of vaccination campaign schedules and forecasts of changes in GDP.

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