According to a report by Agence France-Presse Pretoria on January 26, South African President Ramaphosa slammed "vaccine nationalism" on Tuesday, accusing rich countries of buying and hoarding the new crown vaccine in large quantities and harming the interests of other countries.
According to the report, in a video speech at the 2021 World Economic Forum "Davos Agenda" dialogue, Ramaphosa said that low- and middle-income countries have been squeezed aside by richer countries, which can earn "up to four times The vaccines its population needs".
He warned: "We are worried about vaccine nationalism."
He said: "The rich countries in the world control these vaccines and do not let go. We want to say: put out the excess vaccines you bought and hoarded."
The report pointed out that Ramaphosa’s speech was made at a time when people were increasingly worried that bilateral agreements between the governments of richer countries and COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers might raise vaccine prices and restrict supply in certain regions.