Vaccine Access and Distribution

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Andre Terrana

Equitable access to vaccines is an important worldwide issue that all countries should take steps to address. This is especially important for countries like Colombia, since during the COVID-19 pandemic, Latin American countries experienced problems such as delayed vaccine distribution and logistical problems. The Republic of Colombia affirms that access to vaccines is a fundamental human right and that the United Nations must work on addressing this issue.
Some problems with current vaccine distribution include supply chain failures, unequal access to vaccines, and financial barriers to people becoming vaccinated. Colombia benefited from the COVAX initiative, which was created in 2020 to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries. However, COVAX ultimately failed due to a lack of coordination in accessing and securing supply of vaccines (WHO 2020). Domestically, Colombia has seen success with its’ Expanded Immunization Program, which includes Covid vaccines, prioritizing vulnerable groups (elderly, young children, health workers), and promoting routine childhood vaccinations.
Latin American states have a large barrier to vaccine access. One of the reasons for this is COVID-19 interrupting routine childhood vaccinations, as well as COVID leading to declining vaccination confidence. The main problem is that there is not enough funding to subsidize vaccines, and some people are unable to afford them. Colombia wants to work with other Latin American countries to increase vaccination rates, and to identify other issues relating to vaccine access.
Colombia suggests that the WHO works to reduce “vaccine nationalism” (where rich countries buy the majority of doses available first) to ensure that there are enough available vaccines for all of those in need. Colombia would like to propose using a similar system to our Expanded Immunization Program (as mentioned earlier) as a start to ensuring this equitable access. Colombia also supports the funding to increase vaccine research, which will help to not only provide more vaccines, but to hopefully make them more cost-effective. Finally, Colombia wants to ensure that the global vaccine supply chain is transparent and sustainable to increase the speed of delivery and use. Colombia looks forward to collaboration with similarly-minded member states to work towards creating a healthier world.

Works Cited
CDC. “Fast Facts on Global Immunization.” Global Immunization, 19 Sept. 2024, www.cdc.gov/global-immunization/fast-facts/index.html.

“Latin America and the Caribbean Records World’s Biggest Drop in Childhood Vaccination over Past Decade.” Www.unicef.org, www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/latin-america-and-caribbean-records-worlds-biggest-drop-childhood-vaccination-over-past-decade.

Machado-Alba, Jorge Enrique, et al. “Timeliness for Vaccination according to the Expanded Immunization Program in Children under 6 Years of Age in Colombia between 2014 and 2019.” Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, vol. 20, no. 1, 4 Sept. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2024.2395685.

Shao, Qi. “The Origin of Vaccine Nationalism.” Vaccine, vol. 51, Apr. 2025, p. 126897, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126897.

WHO. “COVAX: Working for Global Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines.” World Health Organization, 2020, www.who.int/initiatives/act-accelerator/covax.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Gabrielle Simmons

During the pandemic, only a small quantity of countries reached a distribution rate of vaccines that was over 75%. In 2021 the Philippines vaccination rates for the booster dose were only 45.37%, in 2022 it increased to 66.12%. This was far off from the original goal. Vaccine waste plays a major issue in the problems of Vaccine Distribution. The Philippines reported wastage of 68,668,305 vaccine doses in 2023. By that time, the total amount of vaccines that could be supplied was 251,774,460. Meaning the Philippines wasted around 25% of their supply. Miscommunication is a major issue to why issues like these form. The VIMS (Vaccine Information Management System) has had many errors, poor communication, management challenges, and failure to properly record data correctly.

One important goal in improving the issue of Vaccine Access and Distribution would be the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). IA2030 strives to create a world where anyone everywhere can have the full benefits from vaccines. Work will be done to recover from disruptions caused by COVID-19 and make sure everyone gains full immunity to diseases. UNICEF is assisting countries with temporary work needed for vaccine distribution. Additionally, UNICEF has plans to aid in delivering doses to people regardless of status or location.

Sources:
https://www.coa.gov.ph/reports/performance-audit-reports/2024-2/covid-19-national-vaccination-program

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Madelyn Tolsma

In 2025 our most efficient tool for disease prevention is Vaccines, currently there are vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, and they save an estimated 4 million lives each year according to the world health organization. Across the world there have been immense advancements on the research and development of vaccines. The problem lies in the lack of access many people have to these vaccinations. Lower income countries face this issue to the highest degree. Inconsistent supply chains and a lack of qualified professionals to deliver vaccines pose great threats to these countries’ ability to provide their peoples with sufficient vaccines. In addition, in many low- and middle-income countries, there has been a much larger increase in vaccine initiation compared to vaccination completion, so some children are only partially vaccinated. Children who are only partially vaccinated do not have the optimum immune benefit of the vaccinations, so studies increasingly focus on predictors of completed vaccination. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic these problems pose a clear threat to a healthier, safer world. Millions go unvaccinated each year; many countries have not seen progress and some others have even gone back on it.

Bolivia’s citizens currently are not properly immunized. Take for example the BCG vaccine, the global average for vaccinated individuals is 88% while in Bolivia it’s only 68%, similar trends occur in just about every common vaccine. Within Bolivia there’s also systems amplifying inequitable distribution. La Paz is the department in Bolivia that faces the largest of disparities. The main cause of these disparities is not access but stigma around vaccines. Although there was a consistent uptick in people accessing vaccines before 2010, the following years it has gone down around 14%. This is due to citizens’ mistrust of vaccinations, a trend occurring throughout Latin America and the Caribbean since the 2010s, which was only heightened by 2019. Parents began to postpone bringing their children to health centers for routine vaccination. To counteract this Bolivia has passed laws in which you must have proof of a Covid 19 vaccine to benefit from government programs i.e enrolling in a new public school. This initiative received a lot of push back; it also overcrowded Bolivia’s vaccination centers and put Bolivia into a further budget deficit.

Bolivia stands with the world health organizations’ plan to grant more equitable global access to vaccines and response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It also promotes Mandated Vaccines as a means to fight against stigma.

Works Cited: UNIEFC USA, https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/bolivia-vaccination-brigades-make-house-calls-reach-every-child
World Health Organization Immunization Dashboard (Bolivia), 2024, https://immunizationdata.who.int/dashboard/regions/region-of-the-americas/BOL
World Health Organization Immunization Dashboard, 2024, https://immunizationdata.who.int
Lessons From The Bolivian Vaccine Mandate, 2023, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9997729/

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Wade Bond

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Kingdom of Thailand
Wade Bond
East Grand Rapids

The issue of vaccine access has became one of the biggest health issues globally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries like India, Brazil, and even the USA, to a lesser extent, are still having a hard time getting vaccinations done for diseases like COVID-19 and measles. The poor and rural areas worldwide are still being disadvantaged by the unequal distribution of vaccines. The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) appeals for more robust global cooperation, improved access, and dependable health systems. Thailand endorses these objectives and insists that every nation should join forces so that no one gets deprived of vaccines.

Thailand has turned around the vaccine access issue by making it a major issue. The country through its universal health care system provides free routine vaccinations for children. A majority of the children are vaccinated on schedule, and the country records the highest vaccination rates in the world for the diseases measles and polio. During the pandemic, Thailand managed to get hold of the vaccines through the help of international partners, and although at times there were instances of vaccination hesitancy, the country managed to yield a high disposal of vaccinations by making use of local clinics, volunteer health workers, and public awareness campaigns. Besides, Thailand keeps on putting money on the strong cold chain storage, digital vaccination records, and training for the healthcare workers so that vaccines are safe and can reach the entire population.

Although there are good vaccination infrastructure resources and Thailand has a strong health system, there are still challenges. Those living in remote villages, migrant laborers, and groups belonging to ethnic minorities sometimes find it difficult to get the vaccines. Natural calamities like floods may come up and cause disruption of delivery routes and storage problems. Thailand is, however, aware that many poor countries are in an even worse situation, including having no medical staff, disrupted supply chains, and no storage facility. Thailand wants world cooperation to be a must so that no country is left behind.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Delegate Name: KenZie Low

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Democratic Republic of the Congo
KenZie Low
City High School

The Immunization Agenda of 2030 (IA2030) was created after the COVID-19 pandemic to address the imperative issue of vaccine access and distribution across nations of different incomes and situations. The agenda builds upon the Global Vaccine Action Plan with a goal of delivering vaccines to everyone despite geographic, cultural, social, or other marginalized disadvantages. The IA2030, however, is adopting a more flexible model as it tailors to every nation’s specific needs and takes a bottom-up approach. This is especially important in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Vaccines have succeeded in greatly reducing the mortality rate of diseases such as measles, Ebola virus, and monkeypox, yet all these diseases are still widely prevalent in the DRC. To address vaccine access and distribution in the DRC, the IA2030 and international affiliates must first address the DRC’s impoverished health system and lack of development, staff, and supply chain measures for vaccines, as well as poor education as a result of violent conflict.

The DRC is beginning to have a high-level commitment to immunization within its nation. One of its goals is to provide free vaccinations to children under the age of five. President Felix Tshisekedi hosted three presidential forums to discuss common solutions to immunization access and distribution in the DRC, indicating the political motivation of the nation to battle diseases such as measles, Ebola virus, and monkeypox. However, the DRC continues to be among the top nations for zero-dose children and limited vaccine coverage. A part of the reason the DRC struggled to receive doses is due to the global stockpiling of vaccines. As a heavily donor-reliant country, higher-income countries keeping excessive doses while the DRC suffers from vaccine shortages has caused one in seven children to die from vaccine-preventable diseases before the age of five. The DRC also lacks the necessary infrastructure to both provide and maintain vaccines, as well as monitor disease. One of the only warehouses for vaccine storage lies in the capital, Kinshasa. The centralization of vaccine storage has made distributing vaccines to rural populations extremely difficult, as transportation systems are underdeveloped in the region. Warehouses also lack the temperature requirements to avoid vaccine degradation. While the central government continues to create policies for immunization, provincial leaders and the general population remain largely unaware and uneducated about vaccines in the DRC. Conflict and a lack of funding have caused outbreaks such as the Ebola outbreak of 2018 and limited immunization coverage in the DRC.

The DRC urges that vaccines be distributed with equity on the global scale. Excessive vaccine stockpiling should be condemned, as other nations such as the DRC struggle with vaccine scarcity. The DRC promotes awareness campaigns and collaboration within nations, with central leaders communicating with health systems and provincial leaders to create a common goal of vaccination. The DRC appreciates international cooperation, with respect to sovereignty, and the aid of the WHO, UNICEF, and donor nations. Training for staff, along with funding for better pay for those individuals, will create the human resources needed to provide vaccines to the population. The decentralization of vaccine storage and improvement in technology to both store and distribute vaccines will make them further accessible to the DRC’s large population. Finally, as a conflict-ridden country, the DRC recognizes that this domestic insecurity creates danger in basic healthcare. Promoting vaccine access and distribution even in conflict zones ensures adequate access even in conflict-affected countries such as the DRC.

Works Cited
Ditekemena, John D., et al. “COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Survey.” Vaccines, vol. 9, no. 2, 14 Feb. 2021, p. 153, https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020153.
“IMMUNIZATION AGENDA 2030.” 1 Apr. 2020.
Kamba, Roger, et al. “Political Engagement: A Key Pillar in Revitalisation of Polio and Routine Immunisation Programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” BMJ Global Health, vol. 9, no. 10, 1 Oct. 2024, pp. e015675–e015675, gh.bmj.com/content/9/10/e015675.abstract, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015675.
Khadija Motunrayo Musa, et al. “Measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Needs Urgent Attention.” Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, vol. 11, 1 Jan. 2024, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11095177/, https://doi.org/10.1177/20499361241252534.
PATH. Immunization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sept. 2016.
Starr, Kayleigh. “Fighting Malaria in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Pathways, Challenges, and Successes – Sabin Vaccine Institute.” Sabin Vaccine Institute, 26 June 2024, www.sabin.org/resources/fighting-malaria-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-pathways-challenges-and-successes/.
Tanveer, Ayesha, et al. “Wealth over Welfare: Mpox Vaccination Delayed in Disputed Region of Congo as High-Income Countries Stockpile Vaccines.” BMJ Global Health, vol. 10, no. 8, 1 Aug. 2025, pp. e018420–e018420, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12338035/, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018420.
Wells, Chad R, et al. “The Exacerbation of Ebola Outbreaks by Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 116, no. 48, 2019, pp. 24366–24372. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26863114, https://doi.org/10.2307/26863114.
Zhang, Alice. “What the Democratic Republic of Congo Could Teach Us about Strengthening Global Health Systems.” Unfoundation.org, 25 July 2022, unfoundation.org/blog/post/what-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-could-teach-us-about-strengthening-global-health-systems/.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Kaitlyn Konyndyk

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Algeria
Kaitlyn Konyndyk
Forest Hills Northern High School
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, global vaccine equity has become an important topic of discussion. In recent years, the United Nations has made significant improvements to global vaccine access and distribution, but much work still needs to be done. The UN is looking to find a resolution that will take steps towards full global vaccine coverage.
Algeria has offered free routine vaccination for children for decades and has achieved high coverage for key vaccines. However, challenges remain in reaching remote areas, maintaining cold‑chain systems, and addressing vaccine hesitancy. Algeria considers access to vaccines an essential component of the right to health and believes that all countries, regardless of income, should be able to obtain and deliver vaccines to their populations. Algeria’s routine vaccines for children are widely available and mostly free, and coverage is generally high, but reaching everyone is still an issue. During COVID‑19, Algeria got vaccines but struggled with hesitancy and organization, so even though they had them, not everyone was taking them.
In the past regarding global access, Algeria has aligned with many developing countries that desire equitable distribution of vaccines. Algeria has supported resolutions that ensure equal and affordable universal access to vaccines against COVID-19. Alergia has also supported resolutions on access to medicines and vaccines in the context of the right to health. Algeria has aligned with positions defending the right to health and equitable access.
Algeria proposes strengthening local clinics and cold-chain so that vaccines can safely reach rural areas. Additionally, Alergia proposes using different methods to fight fear and misinformation about vaccines so people are more likely to accept vaccines and increase public trust in vaccines. Algeria advocates for WHO support in training and deploying community health works in previously underserved areas, believing that easy access to health facilities will greatly increase vaccine uptake.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: China
Delegate Name: Jasmine Mand

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
People’s Republic of China
Jasmine Mand
Forest Hills Eastern

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues of vaccine distribution and equity have become increasingly significant. Over 20 million infants currently lack adequate access to vaccines. Challenges such as cold chain logistics, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and the influence of wealthy countries on vaccine distribution create barriers for developing nations. Furthermore, many vaccines must be stored at extremely low temperatures, which complicates matters for these countries that lack the necessary infrastructure. Additionally, there are common chemical pathways in which the ionic barrier of vaccines can be disrupted. The World Health Assembly has endorsed the Immunization Agenda for 2030 (IA2030) over the next 10 years to save 50 million lives. The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) goals would like to enable data for action purposes, and the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) also calls for accelerated action and stronger partnerships. Over the last years, China was found with the first variant of COVID-19. Through Vaccine Diplomacy, China administered 3.4 billion vaccines and donated 328 million to 80 countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

China deeply recognizes this issue and is committed to global cooperation to help transport vaccines. Vaccine distribution, particularly in China, was a big success as they became the world’s most prominent manufacturers and donors. However, in the long term, people became hesitant to take a vaccine since there were many variants of the virus. Companies like Sinovac and Sinopharm used traditional inactivated virus technology compared to the advanced mRNA one. The government of China mandated that all COVID-19 vaccines would be free for civilians, ensuring no financial barrier. They initiated a tiered rollout plan in which high-risk groups like medical workers would receive the vaccine first. China implemented a “Vaccine QR Code” system that allowed users to download a health code on their smartphones. This code indicated whether individuals could access certain public areas or were restricted from them, with a green code signifying that a person was vaccinated. The government also ran public awareness campaigns to build trust among the population. On the international stage, China donated millions of vaccines to developing countries and engaged in bilateral commercial sales with countries that could afford them, such as the UAE and Egypt. This approach was known as “Fill and Finish,” which allowed companies with the capacity to formulate bulk vaccines but lacking the specialized sterile production lines for filling vials to collaborate effectively. Furthermore, China contributed to the WHO-led COVAX initiative, donating $100 million to support global vaccination efforts.

China is committed to donating cold chain equipment, including solar-powered and ice-lined refrigerators. Additionally, there is the potential to implement dedicated cargo flights for air drops in conflict-affected countries. China also advocates for fill-and-finish manufacturing in developing nations. Furthermore, the establishment of inventory management systems, along with training local personnel and educating them on medical practices, can contribute to faster distribution.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Guyana
Delegate Name: Hafsa Zeeshan

Country: Guyana
Committee: ECOSOC: WHO
Topic: Vaccine Access and Distribution
Delegate: Hafsa Zeeshan
School: Portage Central High School
Vaccines have always been the silent yet strong fighters of diseases, and their importance was largely overlooked, until the COVID-19 pandemic, a whiplash to the world that had most crying out for a solution to the crisis. And vaccines, yet again, are the reason that our world has had a chance to recover from the pandemic that engulfed us just years prior.
Guyana, as a country, has had massive success with its vaccination rates, largely due to its implementation of the Expanded Program on Vaccines that Guyana launched in collaboration with the WHO and the PAHO in 1974. This program helped the country develop a vaccination schedule for kids and eventually to cover all families. In addition, because of Guyana’s free public healthcare, these vaccines have been free to access and having easy access to them is what has helped them actually make an impact. According to the Department of Public Health in Guyana, as of 2016, the government reported national coverage of ~98 % for tuberculosis, dramatic increases in polio and measles coverage, from ~87 % and ~67 % in 1995, respectively, to near-universal coverage just decades later. And Guyana continues to affirm the fact that universal coverage and access to vaccines are essential for preserving the public health of a nation. In a powerful demonstration of regional cooperation, the Governments of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Brazil, together with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), launched the Cross-Border Vaccination Week in the Americas in April of this year, under the campaign that “Your Decision Makes a Difference,” aiming to enhance immunization coverage and strengthen disease prevention efforts among vulnerable populations along the shared border.
But while its success is evident, the Guyana government must also continue its efforts, specifically by providing outreach to its hinterland regions, or the regions where the majority of its indigenous population lives. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, due to their economies having been largely re-tasked to service the mining industry, empirical evidence suggests that rates of sexually transmitted diseases have increased, among various other health concerns. In particular, HIV/AIDS is a serious concern in these populations, especially since vaccines such as the HIV vaccine are incredibly hard to access. The Guyana government has expressed its concern and has made efforts to get these communities what they need. In May of 2025, President Dr Irfaan Ali reaffirmed the government’s deep commitment to advancing Guyana’s Indigenous communities, noting that billions of dollars have been invested in recent years to transform health, education, infrastructure, and economic opportunities across the hinterland and riverine regions. In addition to that, however, WHO can and must play its part in getting care to the areas that need it most, primarily by collaborating with Guyana’s government and the PAHO to fund mobile health services, as many of these communities require days of hard travel to access, and ways to get vaccines to communities while maintaining their temperature, sanity, etc.
Collaboration with other countries and the dedication of Guyana’s government have been monumental in getting Guyana’s vaccination rates and communities where they are, and it’s essential that these efforts be both continued and expanded

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Sierra Leone
Delegate Name: Cosmo Steffke

Sierra Leone, despite having an Expanded Programme on Immunization which provides free childhood vaccinations, still falls short of the global averages for vaccination coverage. Only 56% of children receive all essential vaccines, and measles coverage dropped to 78% in 2023 (UNICEF “Immunization Coverage”). Many rural townships on hard-to-reach roads, misinformation, and generational trauma from past outbreaks have made full coverage difficult.

The delegation of Sierra Leone affirms that vaccination remains a core part of national health and supports WHO’s Pandemic Agreement for fair vaccine access (WHO “Pandemic Agreement Draft”, along with the Immunization Agenda 2030, which emphasizes reaching communities with incomplete coverage.

Although vaccines are mostly available, low participation still remains one of Sierra Leone’s biggest challenges to distribution. About 35% of Sierra Leoneans live more than an hour from a medical facility, and only 48% of clinics have reliable cold-chain equipment (UNICEF Sierra Leone). To improve vaccination rates, the delegation of Sierra Leone supports a resolution encompassing community education programs, mobile health-worker outreach, possibly involving NGOs, and investments in vaccine technology like cold-chain storage to maximize efficacy in varying climates.

Bibliography
“Immunization Coverage: Sierra Leone.” UNICEF Data, UNICEF, https://data.unicef.org/country/sle/.
“Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, WHO, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality.
“Sierra Leone.” World Bank Data, World Bank, https://data.worldbank.org/country/sierra-leone.
“Sierra Leone Country Programme.” UNICEF Sierra Leone, UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/sierraleone/.
State of the World’s Midwifery 2021. UNFPA, 2021, https://www.unfpa.org/sowmy.
“Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2020.” World Health Organization, WHO, 2023.
“UN Human Rights Council Resolution 54/16.” United Nations Digital Library, 2023, https://digitallibrary.un.org/.
Immunization Agenda 2030: A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind. World Health Organization, 2020.
WHO Pandemic Agreement Zero Draft. World Health Organization, 2024, https://www.who.int/.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Amba Jain

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Ukraine
Amba Jain
Forest Hills Northern

Vaccine Access and Distribution has developed from early efforts in medicine. In 1796, a scientist named Edward Jenner discovered a vaccine for smallpox, which helped people become almost immune to the disease. Since then, vaccines have helped prevent millions of deaths worldwide. In Ukraine, vaccination has faced challenges, especially because of the ongoing conflict that has damaged and displaced families. Even with this challenge, the World Health Organization has tried to fix and help all citizens get vaccinated, as these diseases can spread and be difficult to cure. The Ukrainian government has also collaborated with international partners to enhance vaccine supply and bolster healthcare infrastructure. Even after all these efforts, access to vaccination remains “uneven”, making global support and cooperation crucial for protecting public health across the country.
Vaccine access and distribution an issues in Ukraine, but have recently improved. Over 254,000 vaccinations have been available to adults and children. On an international level, Gavi and many other organizations have been supplying doses, supporting nationwide efforts, and rebuilding the infrastructure. Government officials have expanded vaccine and distribution systems and spoken on this topic. For example, Viktor Liashko, the Minister of Health, said that expanding the vaccinations across the region will help to keep everyone safe and healthy, even during the war that is going on against Russia. Ukraine supports many major health organizations that require vaccination access, including the ICESCR, CRC, and WHO’s International Health Regulations(2005).
Some recommendations that Ukraine would make to the international community to address the problem would be to work together to donate more vaccines, improve the systems that deliver them to conflict areas, and support programs that help keep vaccines available during crises. Ukraine would also like to see the international community take an active role in providing vaccine supplies, supporting healthcare infrastructure in conflict-affected areas, and coordinating efforts to ensure vaccines reach the entire population safely. Additionally, Ukraine encourages sharing technical expertise and good practices for vaccination programs, as well as funding initiatives that strengthen local healthcare capacity. Greater international cooperation could help prevent outbreaks and make sure that vaccination efforts continue even during emergencies.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Poland
Delegate Name: Evalea Brown

Evalea Brown
Poland
Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)
School: City High Middle School
Topic: Vaccine Access and Distribution

Vaccinations are one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness and save lives, but getting adequate access and education can create difficulties. About 4 million deaths per year could have been prevented by vaccination. This is why Poland completely supports programs to increase production, distribution, and education about vacancies.
Poland has implemented programs to increase the amount of vaccinations of people of all ages, and promotes access to vaccination for everyone. In June of 2021 Poland committed to donating €750,000 to COVAX in order to support vaccination distribution. Poland is dedicated to increasing the number of vaccination individuals, and promoting the World Health Organization’s goals of increased vaccination. The only way that these goals can be achieved is through global cooperation, and an approach that addresses the problems at every step of vaccine distribution. Starting with promoting increasing vaccination production, fair and widespread distribution and accessibility, and increased education and awareness of the benefits of vaccination. Poland recognizes vaccinations as a foundation for world health, and the importance of unity in working towards sustainable goals to prevent the millions of avoidable deaths caused by lack of access to vaccinations.

Work cited
https://www.gavi.org/investing-gavi/funding/donor-profiles/poland
https://www.cdc.gov/global-immunization/fast-facts/index.html#:~:text=Vaccines%20save%20lives.,live%20in%20just%2010%20countries:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6343616/
https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/stories/poland-is-prioritising-disease-prevention-at-all-ages/
https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization#tab=tab_1

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Clara Winstanley

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long acknowledged the importance of a healthy populace. A large part in achieving this public health is to prevent the spread of preventable illness through a vaccinated society. Worldwide, there have been record vaccination levels, at 86% of infants vaccinated, yet these numbers are unevenly spread, and many places, especially lower income countries in Africa and South-East Asia, still lack access to vaccination resources. This is why in 2021, the World Health Assembly endorsed the Immunization Agenda 2030, referred to as IA2030, a global plan aimed towards preventing disease, promoting equity, and building strong immunization programs.

The Saudi National Immunization Program began in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1979, and since then the Kingdom has taken an active interest in immunization, requiring all children to be vaccinated under the National Child Protection Law, leading to immunization rates in the high ninety percents of all major vaccines listed by the World Health Organization. Even through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had a high 77.58% vaccination rate for the Corona Virus, achieved through consistent information being provided to the public and widespread access to vaccination sites. In more recent years, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contributed to world efforts, especially in the realm of Polio eradication, in 2024 promising 500 million USD towards the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The Kingdom has also worked closely with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to help eradicate polio, and through the pandemic’s disruption, funded efforts to distribute Polio vaccinations to low income countries throughout Africa and the Middle East through the Saudi Fund for Development.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes it is essential to create task forces and international standards for vaccinations. As outlined in IA2030, it is imperative to both have overarching goals for each country, and more focused, independent ideas based on the specific backgrounds and needs of a country. When countries are shown to struggle with gathering the required resources, such as finding an educated healthcare force, or lacking the funds to create comprehensive transportation systems and accessible housing for efforts, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes that the UN should step in to help provide for their needs. In addition, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes it imperative that media efforts are emphasized, for the impact of immunization must be communicated in order to provide incentive. Through the process, systems of monitoring and evaluation both within the country and more widely by the program, as outlined in IA2030’s seven Impact Goal Indicators must be carried out to ensure application and continued efforts in each country.

Resources:
https://www.who.int/about/funding/contributors/kingdom-of-saudi-arabia
https://www.immunizationagenda2030.org/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8249725/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12413835/#cit0005
https://immunizationdata.who.int/dashboard/regions/eastern-mediterranean-region/SAU
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international
https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/strategies/ia2030

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: John Murphy

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Brazil
John Murphy

Access to vaccination and immunization technology is a must-have in every nation around the globe. Every year, childhood vaccination prevents around 4 million deaths, and in the wake of a global pandemic, vaccination is still critical. Although around 110 countries worldwide have base-level vaccination rates of over 90%, there is still a great deal of work to be done to expand vaccination coverage in poor and developing countries, 20 million children remained unvaccinated in 2024. One of the biggest reasons for this difference in coverage is the lack of funding that many countries’ healthcare systems struggle with. Furthermore, it is difficult to store and transport vaccines; many require precise refrigeration and need to be transported carefully in order to remain effective. If more resources are invested in increasing vaccination coverage, an estimated 50 million lives could be saved between 2021 and 2030. This is outlined in the World Health Organization’s Immunization Agenda 2030, which intends to be a collaborative effort across the world in order to provide high-quality immunization in every country through increased investment in vaccination programs.
Brazil has had good vaccination programs for decades, which are rooted in government investment. In 1973, the Brazilian Ministry of Health established the Brazilian National Immunization Program, which was immensely successful in providing vaccine access to populations across the country. Basic vaccination in Brazil reached a peak of 98.9% before it began to decline. One of the major reasons for this trend is a lack of education on the topic and higher levels of vaccine skepticism, which end up impacting vaccinations. 88% of our population has also received at least one covid vaccination, which has helped significantly with our control of the virus. Many people in Brazil benefitted greatly from the COVAX program, as our country was able to receive over a million does of the vaccine.
Brazil is in favor of the World Health Organization’s IA2030 and has been trying to achieve this, despite struggles with the income inequality and low access to healthcare in certain areas. Brazil is also very grateful for the support received from the COVAX program, and we would like to encourage it to continue in other countries, in order to continue reducing the threat of Covid-19. We believe that the best possible resolution would be for wealthier countries to help their developing neighbors by helping provide more medical professionals, safe transportation methods to keep the vaccines cool, and the additional resources necessary to provide vaccinations for all people.

Sources:
Faria, Letícia Bezerra, et al. “Vaccination Barriers in Brazil: Exploring Hesitancy, Access, and Missed Opportunities in a Cohort of Children (2017-2018)-National Vaccination Coverage Survey Results (2020-2021).” Vaccines, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 May 2025, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12115687/#sec1-vaccines-13-00516.
“Vaccination and Immunization Statistics – UNICEF Data.” Unicef, data.unicef.org/topic/child-health/immunization/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
“The Challenges of Vaccine Transport and Storage.” Biopharma from Technology Networks, www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/articles/the-challenges-of-vaccine-transport-and-storage-368536. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
“Explaining the Immunization Agenda 2030.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/strategies/ia2030/explaining-the-immunization-agenda-2030#:~:text=IA2030%20is%20an%20ambitious%20global,good%20health%20and%20well%2Dbeing. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
“Brazil Will Receive the First Vaccines against COVID-19 through the COVAX Mechanism This Sunday.” Unicef, www.unicef.org/lac/en/press-releases/brazil-will-receive-first-vaccines-against-covid-19-through-covax-mechanism-sunday. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Harpreet Kaur

In many regions of the world, unequal access to vaccines continues to pose a major threat to global health security. Low and middle-income countries often face barriers like limited cold-chain infrastructure, shortages of trained healthcare workers, and inconsistent supply chains, which delay vaccination campaigns and leave vulnerable populations unprotected. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these disparities became clear when some nations struggled to secure doses while others received high coverage. Japan recognizes that global vaccine distribution remains uneven and that strengthening access is essential for preventing future pandemics and meeting WHO immunization targets.

Japan has made significant progress in improving vaccine access domestically through coordinated national policies, transparent public communication, and strong logistical planning. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare oversaw a nationwide vaccination campaign that included mass vaccination centers, workplace vaccination programs, and support for Japanese nationals living abroad. Japan’s vaccination plan focused on safety checks, working closely with local governments, and building public trust, which helped many people get vaccinated even though the rollout started slowly. At the same time, Japan has played an active role internationally by contributing to COVAX, supporting vaccine development through global partnerships, and investing in supply-chain strengthening and cold-chain expansion in low-resource settings. These efforts reflect Japan’s broader commitment to universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness, and equitable access to essential medical technologies.

The Nation of Japan remains committed to advancing equitable vaccine distribution as a core component of global health security. Japan will continue collaborating with delegates to strengthen supply chains, expand regional manufacturing capacity, and support evidence-based immunization strategies. By sharing practices from its own vaccination campaigns and investing in resilient health systems, Japan aims to ensure that all countries can access life-saving vaccines.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Damian Drain

The Childhood immunization schedule is free and as of October 2024, varicella, the chickenpox vaccine, was also added to said schedule(Childres health – vaccinations.) Recently, uptake on child vaccination has been declining with hesitant parents intaking misinformation and an overall vaccine fatigue(childhood vaccination in ireland.) This decline threatens previously stable population immunity levels, making Ireland’s main challenge one of public confidence rather than lack of resources.

Ireland believes vaccines are for the public good. It supports WHO led efforts like the WHO pandemic agreement which is a treaty meant to prepare us for future pandemics and includes fair vaccine access and shared medical research results (WHO Pandemic Agreement.) It’s also in support of Immunization Agenda 2030 which hold the notion of “no one left behind” quite well (Immunization Agenda 2030: A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind.) Ireland’s stance also reflects its broader EU commitments to global health equity and scientific transparency. Within these commitments, Ireland contributes development-aid funding and promotes evidence-based communication strategies in global health forums.

Ireland faces low vaccine participation due to misinformation and vaccine fatigue, not lack of resources. To solve this, Ireland supports public awareness campaigns and education through healthcare professionals to rebuild broken trust. The government will continue to offer free childhood vaccines and evaluate communication strategies used during COVID-19 to strengthen future methods. Internationally, Ireland supports WHO led initiatives to spread confidence in vaccines and equitable vaccine access worldwide. Ireland is prepared to share practices on countering hesitancy, participate in joint international vaccine purchasing when appropriate, and collaborate with EU partners to strengthen global early warning and response systems.

Work Sited
– https://www.who.int/westernpacific/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
– https://data.who.int/countries/372
– https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/RES/54/16
– https://platform.who.int/docs/default-source/mca-documents/qoc/quality-of-care/strategies-toward-ending-preventable maternal-mortality-%28epmm%29.pdf?sfvrsn=a31dedb6_4&utm
– https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/topic-details/GHO/sdgtarget3-1-reduce-maternal-mortality – https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/programs/averting-maternal-death-disability-amdd/action/emonc – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361917
– https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-services/children-s-health/vaccinations-for-children – https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0715/1523593-childhood-vaccination-ireland
– https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_R1-en.pdf
– https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/strategies/ia2030

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: India
Delegate Name: Leo Hessell

Vaccination is one of the most important methods of saving lives around the world. India aims to push childhood immunization rates to 90%, following its program, Mission Inradhanush. However, because of government underfunding and poorly structured procurement systems, physical access to affordable medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic facilities are a main concern. India recognizes these are also major obstacles in getting a more immunized population around the world. India is incredibly committed to finding easy, cheap, and effective solutions to the struggle of proper access to and distribution of vaccines.
India’s healthcare system is majorly made up of private providers due to the lack of strength in its governmental healthcare system. This means that access to vaccines may be incredibly expensive, as there is no baseline for how they should be distributed and priced. Ensuring reliable transportation to nations most in need is especially difficult due to some vaccines requiring certain temperatures, or being very fragile, or any other number of concerns. Finding ways to reliably get vaccines to where they need to go is a priority.
Because of the structure of India’s healthcare system, people receiving healthcare often need to pay large amounts of money, both to insurance companies and to receive the care directly. A possible avenue to making vaccines more accessible would be to monitor the companies manufacturing these vaccines to keep their prices down for distribution, or to have contributors take up some responsibility in stimulating that economy.
Creating programs to cheaply distribute vaccines to areas that need it is of utmost importance. India is prioritizing finding methods to get vaccines to areas that are in need. India hopes to work inside the United Nations Immunization Agenda for 2030 and expand further upon how to take action according to its guidelines.
India is looking forward to discussion on the topic.

Works Cited
Immunization Agenda 2030,
https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/strategies/ia2030

Framework for Action IA2030,
https://www.immunizationagenda2030.org/framework-for-action

India Health System Review,
https://wkc.who.int/resources/publications/i/item/india-health-system-review
https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/776885e5-8392-4f53-a19d-fb3c58740059/content

Immunization :: National Health Mission,
https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=2&sublinkid=824&lid=220

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Amina Niang

Vaccine access remains a foundation of global health. Egypt is fully committed to ensuring that its population and its region benefit from safe, effective, and affordable immunization. Over the recent decades, Egypt has expanded programs on immunization and has achieved success with routine vaccination coverage for children exceeding 95% according to UNICEF. These programs have helped Egypt control vaccine-preventable diseases, leading to the nation being polio-free since 2006. Still, despite these improvements, there is more that needs to be done, especially in reaching marginalized or hard-to-reach communities. One statistic highlights that there are approximately 73,000 children in Egypt who have not received any routine vaccinations. These children are usually found in rural or slum areas. Overcoming these obstacles is not simply a matter of maintaining high national coverage; targeted strategies are also necessary to ensure no child is left unprotected.
In December 2024, Egypt achieved maturity level 3 in both medicine and vaccine regulation according to the World Health Organization. This milestone signifies that the Egyptian system is stable and well-functioning. On the production side, Egypt has laid out a plan to up-scale its vaccine manufacturing according to government sources. By 2027, Egypt aims to operate 16 production lines with a combined capacity of 700 million vaccine doses annually. Currently, domestic production accounts for only 30 to 40% of Egypt’s vaccine needs, with the remainder being imported. Increasing local production would reduce import dependency. Still, challenges remain; for instance, delivering vaccines to remote or underserved communities is still quite difficult.
In conclusion, Egypt’s experience shows both the promise and complexity of achieving vaccine equity. Real progress requires tackling hard-to-reach populations, building a quality manufacturing system, and building trust within communities. Egypt is ready to contribute by scaling production and advocating for regional cooperation. The nation of Egypt aims to become a consumer of vaccines and also a reliable producer. With assistance from the WHO, Egypt is very confident that it can help create a future where no child is left unvaccinated, and every community has sustainable access to life-saving immunization.

www.unicef.org/egypt/vaccines. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.emro.who.int/media/news/egyptian-national-regulatory-authority-reaches-second-highest-level-in-who-classification.html. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
“Egypt’s Regulatory System Reaches WHO Maturity Level 3 in Medicines Regulation.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news/item/20-12-2024-egypt-s-regulatory-system-reaches-who-maturity-level-3-in-medicines-regulation. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Jada Wynn

In an era where vaccine access should be available and distributed everywhere, unfortunately it is not possible. In an overview article presented by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), in 2024, 14.3 million children under the age of 1 did not receive basic vaccines, and 1 and 5 children lack access to lifesaving vaccines. Many of these children who are lacking these vaccines are in low to middle income countries, such as Afghanistan, Angola, and Yemen. This is a situation where the solution to these problems are right there, but are guarded behind an expensive paywall that middle to lower income countries simply cannot afford. In the same CDC article, it is said that 4 million deaths worldwide are prevented by childhood vaccination, but unfortunately poorer countries don’t get that privilege, which needs to change.
The Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledges the problem of vaccine access and has already made a solution to the issue by creating the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group(NITAG). This program consists of undersecretary for health affairs(Ministry of Health), Director of the center for communicable disease control, Head of the immunization department, Technical experts from different specialties and Representatives of internal vaccine manufacturers (as ex-officio members with no voting right) who oversees and plays an important role in policy making for vaccines. Since the creation of the program, Iran has active universal immunization against the diseases such as tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella(According to “National Immunization Program in Iran Whys and why nots” from the National Library of Medicine). While the program has made many improvements for vaccine access, there are still some flaws. Unfortunately, NITAG does not provide vaccines for diseases such as rotavirus, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), varicella, pneumococcal and influenza. The reason for this is due to financial issues, Iran cannot fund the creation and distribution of these vaccines for the time being. Overall, the delegation of Iran is doing everything to give access to vaccines to Iranian citizens, but unfortunately there is a financial struggle behind the scenes.
To combat this financial struggle, Iran has made the decision to collaborate with non-profit organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) to help distribute vaccines to Iran. With this partnership, 1.5 million children were able to receive life saving vaccines across the country(according to “Partner with Iran” from UNICEF). With this partnership, Iran was able to conquer financial struggle and work together with organizations to give children what they need.
When discussing the problems regarding vaccine access and distribution, Iran strongly suggests creating programs regarding the vaccine access and the policy making surrounding it. Creating a program with experienced individuals regarding vaccines and issues of accessing and distributing them will not only create a form of organization, but also will make quick strides for easier and proper access to vaccines for citizens in the near future.
In conclusion, the Islamic Republic of Iran is very open to discuss with other delegations about possible solutions to the topic at hand. Vaccine access is important for the health of everyone, especially when it comes to children. Iran hopes to find a proper solution to this issue soon and looks forward to potential partnerships with other delegations.

Works Cited
UNICEF Brings Life-Saving Vaccines to Iran, Reaching 1.5 Million Children. https://www.unicef.org/iran/en/press-releases/unicef-brings-life-saving-vaccines-iran-reaching-15-million-children. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
“Eastern Mediterranean Region.” Immunization Data, https://immunizationdata.who.int/dashboard/regions/eastern-mediterranean-region/IRN. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
Moradi-Lakeh, Maziar, and Abdoulreza Esteghamati. “National Immunization Program in Iran: Whys and Why Nots.” Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, vol. 9, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 112–14, doi:10.4161/hv.22521.
CDC. “Fast Facts on Global Immunization.” Global Immunization, 15 Jul. 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/global-immunization/fast-facts/index.html.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Matthew Gascon

The Russian Federation affirms that equitable global vaccine access is fundamental to global health security. This issue is rightfully a top priority for the World Health Organization. This was made especially clear by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed structural weaknesses in international vaccine distribution, especially in less developed countries. Although the WHO and many countries have undertaken initiatives to improve these problems, including the Immunization Agenda 2030, global disparities persist. Therefore, Russia supports the strengthening of existing distribution mechanisms while ensuring that respect for national sovereignty, scientific rigor, and depoliticized cooperation between countries remain the cornerstones of the WHO’s work.
The Russian Federation has always invested in vaccine development and access. The Sputnik V vaccine, developed by the top Russian researchers, is a testament to these efforts. The Sputnik V vaccine was registered in August 2020, and it was one of the first vaccines to be deployed in multiple countries against COVID-19. The Russian Federation helped distribute the vaccine quickly, starting in December 2020, to Argentina, Belarus, the Philippines, and many other countries to provide a quick response to the growing pandemic. These efforts demonstrate the Russian Federation’s willingness to support any nations in need and the commitment to diversification of the world’s vaccine supply rather than excessive dependence on a limited number of suppliers.
The Russian Federation continues to advocate for expanding regional vaccine manufacturing hubs and developing standardized technology transfer frameworks—especially for developing countries–to ensure that public health needs cannot be compromised by political pressure or economic barriers. Developing countries increasing their public health infrastructure is essential not just for routine immunization but also for quick, effective responses in future health emergencies.
In addition, the Russian Federation urges the WHO to promote the development of national public health systems and equitable access to all essential vaccines. The Russian Federation also supports cooperative monitoring, where countries collect data within their own borders while relying on the WHO’s expertise for guidelines and technical assistance. Each nation would collect data about themselves, and they would receive help from the WHO without interference from other countries. This balances the need for scientific reliability and effective data collection with respect for all countries’ national sovereignty.
The Russian Federation also calls for depoliticized global health cooperation. The WHO must encourage the removal of obstacles such as unilateral sanctions that impede access to essential medical technologies. These obstacles get in the way of the WHO’s mission and the goals all nations are trying to achieve. The world must not allow petty politicking to get in the way of saving lives. In this spirit, strengthening international trust and removing barriers to collaboration will help ensure a more resilient global health system.
The Russian Federation is ready to work with all countries to advance a fair, inclusive, and effective global vaccine strategy that will strengthen global health security and prepare the world for any future global health challenges.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Iraq
Delegate Name: Tejas Karumudi

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Republic of Iraq
Tejas Karumudi
Forest Hills Eastern High School

Vaccines are a major tool in the fight against infectious epidemics that claim millions of lives. Vaccines strengthen the immune response against infections, helping affected individuals develop less severe complications after an infection and preventing the rapid spread of infectious diseases. While developed countries are manufacturing thousands of vaccines to combat local epidemics, developing countries still face a disadvantage in acquiring proper access to vaccines. As of May 2023, developing countries in Africa had only 60 doses of COVID-19 vaccines per 100,000 people, while developed countries such as Australia had 250 doses of COVID-19 vaccines per 100,000 people. Developing countries lack the financial resources to manufacture vaccines, and citizens in developing countries are skeptical about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. Therefore, developing countries develop more long-lasting complications from disease epidemics and pandemics than developed countries. Another major issue regarding vaccine access is the unequal distribution of vaccines in both developed and developing countries. Citizens who live in poorer areas due to socioeconomic factors experience challenges with vaccination due to improper allocation of vaccines by the federal government, while wealthier classes of people enjoy higher access to vaccines. This gap in vaccine distribution is more pronounced in developing countries, with only 5% of the population in Africa being vaccinated. Unequal distribution of vaccines can cause higher death rates in poorer populations, leading to population loss, major disruptions in the workforce (workers in blue-collar jobs comprise mostly of the poorer population), and economic issues. In response to problems with vaccine access and distribution, the World Health Organization passed a resolution in 2017 that focused on strengthening immunization in member countries and preventing the onset of infectious epidemics. Additionally, the World Health Organization created the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for 2023-2025 to help countries transition to long-term management of COVID-19 and coordinate public health response efforts in countries affected by monkeypox. Lastly, the World Health Organization endorsed the program Immunization Agenda 2030, which sought to achieve greater progress in vaccine access across the world, improve vaccine distribution to all groups of people, and assist countries in healing from the devastating effects of COVID-19.

Epidemics and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases still emerge in the Republic of Iraq due to the lack of vaccine access and improper vaccine distribution. Firstly, Iraq suffers from poor management of its cold chain, the temperature-controlled system for storing and transporting vaccines, which has reduced the uptake of the polio vaccine by Iraqi citizens. Secondly, poorer citizens from some remote areas do not have access to basic healthcare and vaccines for vaccine-preventable diseases. Lastly, some Iraqi citizens hold skeptical beliefs about the level of safety and effectiveness of vaccines, leading to lower rates of vaccination. Therefore, the lack of vaccination is a major issue in the Republic of Iraq, but the nation is actively implementing solutions to remedy this problem. For example, Iraq joined the COVAX Facility to receive vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases, and Iraq acquired over 653 refrigerators from German donations to improve the storage of vaccines. Also, Iraq’s Ministry of Health launched a nationwide vaccination campaign in 2021 to increase the number of COVID-19 vaccinations. Through the campaign, Iraq’s Ministry of Health created more than 100 vaccination sites across the country, deployed more than 225 health professionals to administer vaccines in remote areas, and sent more than 1300 mobile outreach teams to transport vaccines directly to citizens in remote areas. Despite these progressive efforts, Iraq still faces fluctuations in vaccination rates. For instance, a decline in vaccination in 2025 contributed to a measles outbreak in Iraq. Therefore, Iraq needs continuous support from the WHO and other countries to provide funding for vaccination initiatives, medical resources (vaccines and storage systems), and guidance on managing vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Republic of Iraq encourages the WHO and member nations to strengthen efforts in improving vaccine access and distribution in all countries. Iraq strongly urges the international community to share vaccination equipment and knowledge about vaccines with all countries in order to create effective solutions that allow all humans to access vaccines at little or no cost. Also, Iraq would like to see the international community and the WHO provide continuous support and guidance to developing countries so that developing countries can reduce vaccine-preventable diseases through proper vaccination. In conclusion, the Republic of Iraq desires the collaboration of all countries that are part of the WHO in order to protect millions of lives from the destructive effects of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Talia McCollum

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Greece
Committee: World Health Organization
Delegate Name: Talia McCollum
School: Mattawan High School

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, vaccines have become one of the most pressing global health concerns. Only a small number of countries achieved coverage rates above 75% for at least one dose, and even fewer reached high rates of full vaccination. These are not the result of a single cause, but from challenges in global health systems. Recent uprisings in measles cases have made very apparent that the challenge is beyond COVID-19; uneven distribution of fundamental childhood vaccines continues to place millions at risk from preventable diseases.
The UN and the WHO have taken initiative to address this, including the 2017 resolution on strengthening immunization systems and the creation of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). This framework calls on Member States to take responsibility for their own immunization programs through monitoring, evaluation, and equitable distribution. The impact goals consist of reducing morbidity and mortality, leaving no one behind, and ensuring good health and wellbeing.
Greece is committed to providing vaccines for its population and contributing to global immunization goals. Greece maintains a National Immunization Program that provides free vaccines to all residents, which include refugees and migrants. Greece has strengthened digital vaccination records, expanded access to community health centers, and implemented community based programs to help immunization rates. Greece has also played a big role in supporting international vaccine distribution. As a Member State of the EU, Greece contributed to joint procurement and distribution mechanisms during the COVID-19 pandemic and supported COVAX, the global initiative aimed at equitable vaccine access for lower-income nations. Greece continues to support the commitments outlined in IA2030, which recognizes them as essential for reducing disease burdens, preventing outbreaks, and promoting global health security.
However, Greece acknowledges that major disparities remain in global vaccine distribution, especially across Africa, South Asia, and remote regions. Limited healthcare workers and regional conflict continue to disrupt vaccine access. Greece believes that WHO must make an effort to address these obstacles through investment, monitoring strategies, and strengthened support for vulnerable populations.
Greece emphasizes that vaccines cannot be administered without trained professionals. WHO should support Member States in expanding healthcare worker training programs, especially for nurses and midwives. Greece asks for WHO supported Mobile Immunization Units, staffed by internationally funded and trained professionals, to deliver vaccines in remote and underserved areas. Greece supports the expansion of international medical deployments during outbreak emergencies to ensure rapid, effective vaccine administration.
Populations facing poverty, displacement, or conflict are the least likely to receive timely vaccinations. Greece recommends that WHO develop protocols for emergency vaccine deployment, making sure that humanitarian settings receive the shipments of vaccines and equipment. This includes pre-positioning vaccines in regional emergency stockpiles. Greece stresses that equity requires prioritizing those who are most at risk and ensuring that workers are trained to deliver care without discrimination.
Many vaccines require cold-chain storage, which poses major challenges in low-resource environments. Greece proposes that WHO expand investment in solar-powered refrigeration units, low-cost insulated transport containers, and real-time temperature-monitoring devices to protect vaccine integrity. Greece also encourages Member States to collaborate on regional distribution hubs to reduce delays caused by limited infrastructure. Finally, Greece supports continued research into heat-stable vaccines and single-dose formulations, which would significantly ease the burden on transportation and storage systems in remote regions.
By strengthening the healthcare workforce, improving access for vulnerable populations, and addressing storage and transportation challenges, WHO and its Member States can build a world where all people have access to life-saving vaccines. Greece stands ready to work with the global community toward achieving the goals of IA2030 and ensuring health and wellbeing for all.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Areesha Shah

The global distribution of vaccines remains uneven, particularly for lower-income and geographically large countries. Structural constraints — including worldwide supply shortages, limited manufacturing hubs, and global pricing disparities — have impacted many nations. Ethiopia advocates for fair, needs-based vaccine allocation under WHO guidance.
Ethiopia strongly supports treating vaccines as global public goods. The nation has been a vocal supporter of equitable vaccine distribution through COVAX, the African Union, and WHO. Ethiopia believes that global solidarity, technology sharing, and sustained financial support are essential to improving vaccine availability for all nations.
Ethiopia seeks: Expanded national cold-chain systems and training for vaccine storage; Strengthened partnerships with WHO, GAVI, and the Africa CDC; Increased vaccination campaigns for measles, polio, COVID-19, HPV, and childhood illnesses; Invested in digital immunization tracking systems to improve coverage and reporting; Implemented community outreach programs to reduce hesitancy and encourage immunization.
Ethiopia reaffirms its dedication to improving maternal health and achieving universal vaccine access. Through strong national programs and meaningful international partnerships, Ethiopia is committed to working through the WHO to build a healthier, more resilient global community.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Victoria Kim

Victoria Kim
Republic of Korea
Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)
School: City High Middle School
Topic B: Vaccine Access and Distribution
On July 5, 2021, it was reported that the Republic of Korea’s vaccination rate had slowed down since June 20 due to vaccine shortages. The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rate was 21.9%, with those aged under 30 at 33.4% and those aged 65 or over at 8.7%. Comprising a shocking 2% of the vaccine market in the world, the market scale of vaccines in Korea was 710 billion KRW in 2011, with an annual growth rate of 11% for the past 6 years. In 2023, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) confirmed that 93.3% of one-year-olds, 93.6% two-year-olds, 88.7% for three-year-olds, and 89.4% for six-year-olds received full vaccination coverage. The Republic of Korea believes that fellow member states should aim towards the improvement of vaccine access with the implementation of better distribution of vaccines.
The Republic of Korea believes that vaccine access and distribution should be improved through raised awareness and government funding for full vaccination coverage, further encouraging vaccination. With objectives aligned with the WHO guidelines, the Korean government has set three target objectives: reducing disease severity and mortality, mitigating virus spread, and preventing the collapse of important societal functions. In August 2021, President Moon Jae-in announced that South Korea would launch new initiatives to position the country as a global vaccine hub, including for COVID-19 vaccines. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the Republic of Korea has achieved maturity level four (ML4), the highest level of WHO’s classification of regulatory authorities for medical products. South Korea’s expertise in vaccine production and distribution puts it in a prime position to increase the number of vaccination sites and improve vaccine quality.
This committee must tackle the challenges of vaccine access and distribution, such as supply unpredictability, difficulties in estimating demand, and issues with the public health infrastructure needed to manage distribution. To this end, the Republic of Korea believes that resolutions should emphasize and encourage three main points: improving vaccine availability and accessibility to all by increasing the number of vaccination sites, promoting government oversight on the supply chain management, and generalizing online reservation to encourage efficiency. According to an opinion poll co-hosted by the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) and the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health (SNU GSPH), due to the use of online reservations, the percentage of people who wanted a vaccination increased by 16.3% points from May to June, from 59.2% in May to 75.5% in June.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Slovenia
Delegate Name: Ava Chapman

Ava Chapman
Country: Slovenia
Committee: WHO
School: East Grand Rapids High School
Topic B: Vaccine Access and Distribution
Access to safe and effective vaccines is essential for protecting global health. According to the World Health Organization, globally in 2024, there were 14.3 million children missing out on any vaccination. Slovenia has a high-quality vaccination system and strong immunization rates, yet it still acknowledges the countries worldwide that continue to face significant gaps in vaccine supply, distribution, and staffing. These blemishes in the system leave millions of people without the disease protection they need and deserve. Opening vaccine access is a global responsibility and an opportunity for meaningful international cooperation.
Improving vaccine access begins with training a substantial number of healthcare professionals to administer them. Slovenia encourages countries to invest in training nurses, community health workers, and pharmacists. Programs supported by the WHO can help countries build a flexible workforce by implementing digital methods of training and regional partnerships with other corporations to fill temporary medical position shortages. Slovenia also believes that vulnerable populations must be prioritized in vaccine distribution. To do this, countries can rely on mobile medical teams, strong community partnerships, and clear communication efforts that meet people where they are. Groups at high risk, such as the elderly, the chronically ill, refugees, and those in remote areas, need extra support to ensure they are vaccinated safely and quickly. Improved data systems can give governments insight into which demographic groups still need vaccines, which will allow medical professionals to respond to outbreaks faster. Slovenia recognizes that transporting and storing vaccines poses a daunting task, particularly for vaccines that require incredibly low temperatures. Supply chains are also an area that requires improvements, such as investing in reliable cold-storage equipment, stable electricity, and temperature-monitoring technology. Slovenia supports international cooperation to develop affordable refrigeration solutions and to simplify customs and transportation procedures, allowing vaccines to move safely across borders.
Ultimately, Slovenia is committed to building a world where everyone has access to vaccines. Measurable steps that can be taken include strengthening the healthcare workforce, focusing on vulnerable communities, and improving storage and delivery systems. Countries can work together to create a safer and more resilient global health system.

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240052154?utm_
https://hlh.who.int/docs/librariesprovider4/hlh-documents/role-of-community-health-workers-in-covid-19-vaccination.pdf?utm
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/covid_19_vaccination_response_country_experiences_best_practices_lessons.pdf?download=true&sfvrsn=6d865c90_4&utm
https://www.who.int/campaigns/vaccine-equity/vaccine-equity-declaration?utm
https://www.who.int/news/item/15-07-2024-global-childhood-immunization-levels-stalled-in-2023-leaving-many-without-life-saving-protection?utm
https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/essential-programme-on-immunization/supply-chain/guidance?utm

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Central African Republic
Delegate Name: Avery Weber

Vaccine Access and Distribution – Central African Republic

The Central African Republic recognizes that global vaccine equity remains a challenge, particularly for low-income and conflict-affected nations. The Central African Republic has very limited outreach when it comes to vaccination, approximately 86% of children between 12 – 35 months have not received full vaccination. There are also militias that steal medical supplies and essential equipment which severy disrupts the cold chain in the Central African Republic. Between January and July only 13,560 children were vaccinated which is only 16 percent of children in the country. Getting vaccinated is vital not just to protect yourself but to also limit outbreaks of polio, measles, and diphtheria making alarming comebacks.
A possible solution that the Central African Republic would support involves the an increase of distributed vaccines, the utilization of peacekeepers to protect the vaccine resources from militia groups and other potential outside attacks, and additional resources and monetary donations being sent to support this noble cause. All of these measures would support an increase in the the amount of vaccine related aid being distributed to populations in need all around the world, with the vaccination of young children being a major target for these distributions. This targeted distribution will help increase the number of children receiving all of the necessary vaccinations, rather than just the ones available in their area, and help prevent the spread of these infectious diseases.
The Central African Republic highly encourages the involvement of peacekeepers for support and protection against violent attacks and militias for the current vaccines being distributed through the cold chain, and the increasing of the number of vaccines being given to poverty stricken countries along with targeted distributions of these resources to get the vaccines where they are needed most.

Works Cited
“Central African Republic – Traveler view | Travelers’ Health.” CDC, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/central-african-republic. Accessed 25 November 2025.
Rodriguez, Jose Carlos, and Marie Ella Kouakou. “Child vaccination in the Central African Republic.” UNICEF, 7 April 2025, https://www.unicef.org/car/en/stories/child-vaccination-central-african-republic. Accessed 24 November 2025.
“Vaccination via motorcycle and canoe in Central African Republic.” Doctors Without Borders, 6 November 2025, https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/vaccination-motorcycle-and-canoe-central-african-republic. Accessed 24 November 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Ruchi Gupta

Vaccine access and distribution in Malaysia led to over 86% receiving at least one dose and around 84% fully vaccinated, helping reduce severe COVID‑19 cases and deaths. Vaccinated individuals saw much lower ICU admissions (~83% reduction) and death (~88% reduction), showing strong protective impact. Malaysia’s COVID-19 vaccine access and distribution has been positively supported by COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access), Gavi vaccines alliance, CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), WHO, and UNICEF. It is important to address as vaccines prevent deadly diseases, many low and middle-income countries may not get enough vaccines without international coordination. It is also important to support national health systems by guiding vaccine delivery, training health workers, and improving infrastructure. Malaysia cares about vaccine distribution to protect its population and reduce spread of diseases. Successful vaccine distribution also lessens the strain on healthcare facilities. Vacation rates are crucial for maintaining social and economic activities. The UN’s COVAX facility ensured equitable global vaccine access while UNICEF, the world’s largest vaccine buyer, led the major supply operation.

The Malaysian government signed agreements with several countries and manufacturers. Malaysia received crucial support and equipment from international partners, such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency and their Trade and Industry. Malaysia (JACTIM), which donated cold chain equipment like freezers and cold boxes to boost storage capacity. Malaysia bought NGO’s, state governments and foreign embassies to assist distribution to hard-to-reach populations of asylum-seekers registered with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and undocumented migrants.MERCY Malaysia is supporting the Ministry of Health’s vaccination centers in urban and remote areas to improve accessibility. During COVID, Malaysia was primarily focused on its own domestic needs, but it aspired to become a more self-sufficient and potentially contributing country in the future. Malaysia now has high vaccination coverage and a strong distribution system. National Immunization Programme (NIP) provides free child vaccines in Malaysia, ensuring wide access using clinics, mobile teams, and strict safety regulations and has a nationwide delivery system using local clinics and outreach programs for rural areas and improving public education to maintain high coverage. Malaysia adopted Pandemic agreement in the World Health Assembly receiving suitable timely access to vaccines and diagnostic in future pandemics.

The UN initiated campaigns like the “Verified” initiative and also provided communication guidance to help build community trust in vaccines and counter misinformation. Malaysia has also strengthened vaccine safety monitoring through the NPRA, addressed hesitancy by working with religious councils on halal assurance, and expanded data systems like HMIS to track coverage and improve equitable access across the country. Malaysia can improve its everyday vaccine distribution by strengthening logistics, especially in remote areas, through better cold-chain equipment and more mobile clinics. It also needs a national digital vaccination registry and stronger data tools to track coverage and prevent missed or expired doses. Building community trust through local leaders, NGOs, and clear public education can reduce hesitancy, while expanding the role of pharmacists and trained healthcare workers can make vaccines easier to access. Finally, Malaysia should ensure equal access for everyone, including undocumented groups, and consider well-designed incentives or requirements to maintain high vaccination rates. Malaysia can suggest more global funding, better storage and delivery of vaccines, and shared digital tracking. It also supports training health workers, strengthening regional manufacturing hubs, ensuring fair vaccine pricing, and running hesitancy-reduction campaigns, while public health partnerships with faith-based groups, the private sector, and community organizations help spread accurate information and encourage uptake so vaccines reach all populations, including remote and marginalized communities.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Samantha Cross

World Health Organization
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Federal Republic of Germany
Samantha Cross
Forest Hills Eastern

For centuries, people around the world have looked for a cure for deadly diseases and illnesses. As of 2021, 40 out of 100 deaths in children under 5 years old were caused by infectious diseases, many of which could have been prevented by vaccines. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 14.3 million children under 1 years of age did not receive any basic vaccines, which increases the risk of infection and possible death. The United Nations works with vaccines primarily through the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who coordinate vaccine development and distribution, promote access and provide information about vaccinations, advocates for funding for vaccine programs, ad. The UN also advocates for funding for vaccine programs and running campaigns to educate and save lives.

Germany recognises the importance of vaccine access and distribution for all of its citizens. Germany’s Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) makes vaccination recommendations and recommends specific measures for children, adolescents, and adults. Vaccines that are recommended by STIKO are also generally free for all children and for people with statutory public health insurance, which covers the majority of the population. Germany has also passed the Infection Protection Act, which dictates how vaccines are approved, recommended, financed, and delivered to citizens. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health sets the public health policy and ensures that it is aligned with the European Union’s regulations while Germany’s federal states implement vaccination programs and campaigns, especially in schools. Germany also gives citizens the Impfpass, which is a small document that records vaccination history. Internationally, Germany has helped lead the way in vaccine access and distribution. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany donated and supplied around 119 million doses of vaccines to 46 countries, primarily in Africa and Asia. Due to a lack of vaccine production in Africa, Germany has donated more than 550 million euros and loans to help the African Union develop their own vaccine production.

The Federal Republic of Germany urges the UN to pass more measures in regards to vaccine access and distribution. Germany believes that to reduce this problem, the UN should focus on education of vaccines and clearing up misinformation and hesitancy about immunization, as well as reducing financial costs that accompany vaccines, which can be achieved by donating to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. We would also like to implement the use of different vaccination sites, such as vaccination centers, mobile vaccination teams, and even school based vaccination programs internationally. It is important to enact these measures as soon as possible so that more people can have access to vaccines, and more lives can be saved.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Priya Mahabir

Country: Canada
Delegate: Priya Mahabir
School: Forest Hill Central High School
Committee: WHO – ECOSOC
Topic: Vaccine Access and Distribution

20% of children in the world don’t have access to vaccines; there are approximately four million child deaths every year due to not being able to access vaccines. Roughly, around seventeen percent of Canadians didn’t receive a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, around 7.9 million people. Although internationally, virus import causes outbreaks, but also a decline in vaccine rates to contain those outbreaks. In 2000, Canada had a 96% coverage for the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV1), but as of 2023, 87% of adults have been able to receive the first dosage, meaning the vaccine rate has gone down 9% which is around 3.7 million people.

Canada is trying to make vaccines available at no cost to people in need who can’t afford them. By using the collaborative federal, provincial, and territorial (F/P/T) framework, even though it does much more than public health, it is still a priority to have public health care accessible to everyone. To address access to all pertinent vaccines, the government makes an effort through multi-layered regulation, prioritization, and distribution. Instead of prioritizing only people who want it and have money, Canada prioritizes the people who need it: people with health risks, age, essential workers, and anyone vulnerable to any disease needing a vaccine. And for people who can’t afford a vaccine, they can go through the publicly funded healthcare system, so they can not only get a vaccine but a quality one that actually works.

With the vaccine usage going down, Canadians have been hesitant about getting vaccinated since the COVID-19 vaccines first came out. As a result, we prioritize advertising to have more people take the vaccine because the public healthcare system provides quality medicine for free. As hard as it is to give every country a public healthcare system, it’s worth the cost. We want everyone to be fully vaccinated and covered when they have a health problem.

Sources:
https://www.canada.ca › services › vaccination-coverage
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25005468#:~:text=In%20Canada%2C%20the%20federal%20government,persist%20%5B27%2C28%5D.
https://share.google/LZx1NQ3jlEtcIPlTE

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Ainsley Roepcke

According to World Health Organization data, around 64% of children aged 12-23 months in Nigeria did not receive all recommended vaccines. An ecological trend analysis found that Nigeria remains far below global immunization targets. This analysis also estimated that Nigeria accounts for 14.7% of the world’s unvaccinated infants. WHO has supported Nigeria through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) by helping map “zero-dose” communities using national data, and by doing so, has successfully enabled targeted vaccination in 100 Government Areas (LGAs) across 18 states. Vaccination contributes to good health. By strengthening vaccine systems, countries can successfully increase child survival rates. With a large population undervaccinated, Nigeria faces high mortality rates from vaccine-preventable diseases. Nigeria is deeply concerned with this issue and is committed to finding a solution, working with its fellow delegates.

Nigeria faces serious challenges regarding immunization, but is actively working with organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, and various NGOs to improve its systems. Nigeria’s immunization strategy, through the NPHCDA, prioritizes improving immunization in zero-dose communities and strengthening health care. WHO reports that this strategy aims to reduce the number of zero-dose children by at least 80% by 2028, which is aligned with the Immunization Agenda 2030 goals. In October 2025, Nigeria launched a massive campaign across all 36 states to deliver measles, polio, and HPV vaccines. The “Big Catch-Up” campaign, supported by WHO, specifically targets children who missed vaccination, specifically during the Covid-19 pandemic, to close immunization gaps. Despite progress, rates of immunization remain well below targets with a trend analysis of around 53.5% having the DTP3 vaccination in 2023, while the target is 80%. Nigeria is actively addressing vaccine access, partnering with global organizations and launching large-scale campaigns. Nigeria has integrated immunization frameworks, but long-term success will require global partnership.

Despite progress, Nigeria still faces many challenges, including low immunization rates in DTP3, recorded at 53.5%, far below the global target of 80%. Additionally, Nigeria accounts for 14.7% of the world’s unvaccinated children. UNICEF found that only 36% of children aged 12-23 months are fully vaccinated. Nigeria recommends that the United Nations prioritize low-income countries such as Nigeria that account for large numbers of the world’s zero-dose children by delivering vaccines and implementing health education programs. With continued partnership from the UN, Nigeria can continue moving forward toward growing immunization rates. Nigeria remains committed to the Immunization Agenda 2030 and believes that through global partnership, universal immunization can become a reality.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: Silas Fetrow

Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)
Topic: Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Australia
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Ensuring equitable vaccine access and distribution remains one of the most pressing challenges in modern global health. While scientific advancements have made vaccines more effective and widely available than ever before, disparities between high-income and low-income nations persist. As a country with a strong biomedical industry and universal healthcare, the Commonwealth of Australia recognizes the moral, medical, and economic importance of closing these gaps.
Within Australia, the national immunization program provides free vaccines for residents and prioritizes vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities, children, and the elderly. Australia’s experience has shown that consistent public messaging, community engagement, and trust in healthcare workers are key factors in achieving high vaccination rates. Nonetheless, Australia acknowledges the continued need to combat misinformation and improve outreach to rural and remote communities where access can still be inconsistent.
On the global stage, Australia is committed to supporting equitable vaccine distribution, especially across the Indo-Pacific region. Through initiatives such as COVAX and bilateral assistance programs, Australia has contributed funding, cold-chain equipment, and technical training to countries with limited medical infrastructure. The nation believes that strong regional health systems benefit everyone by reducing disease spread, strengthening economic stability, and enabling faster responses to future outbreaks.
Australia encourages the World Health Organization to prioritize transparency in vaccine supply chains, investment in local manufacturing capacity, and strengthened partnerships with NGOs and private-sector organizations. The delegation also supports expanded research collaboration to help countries develop their own vaccines, which reduces long-term dependency on high-income nations. Additionally, Australia advocates for improving global cold-chain logistics and encouraging data-sharing among nations to track vaccine coverage and identify gaps.
In conclusion, Australia views equitable vaccine access and distribution as a fundamental component of global health security. By expanding cooperation, strengthening regional capacity, and promoting science-based public health practices, Australia believes the international community can build a fairer, more resilient global vaccination system that protects all people—regardless of nationality or economic status.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Turkey
Delegate Name: Murphy Hawk

Committee- World Health Organization

Country- Türkiye

Delegate- Murphy Hawk

Vaccine Access and Distribution

After COVID-19 the world began to realize how much of a lack there is when it comes to the distributions and accessibility to vaccines. As vaccinations made a rise, the lower-income areas were facing the struggle of even getting 75% of their people just the first shot. This issue did not just start from COVID-19, but the lack of medical access has been present for years. Vaccine equity is a term that is used to describe the necessity it is for medication to be distributed fairly and efficiently without discriminations against a country’s economic status. This is what people are struggling with. Bigger, stronger nations are creating these medical solutions and not forming an efficient and fair way of handing them out, leaving many poverty-stricken, smaller countries struggling (Global). The data on how and where vaccines should be given is always changing and adapting due to many outside factors but that is a system that is crucial to master because people cannot be left in the dark. Another branch to this issue is that as lower-incomes are administered the vaccines slower it is leaving them more vulnerable to variants and variations of diseases that already exist like COVID-19. The longer it takes for medication and treatment to be given, the more time a disease has to spread, and the harder it is to catch up (Global).

When looking at Türkiye, the issue is not necessarily the lack of vaccines but the refusal to receive the vaccination by the citizens. Whether its families not wanting their children to get the shots or just adults in general who feel they do not need or want it, the highest reason for not vaccinated individuals is just the refusal to get it all together (Özceylan,). Studies show that 23,000 people in Türkiye were unvaccinated in 2017, and that number has only increased. This is an incredibly unique situation because the citizens could have the vaccination that they need to treat a wide spreading disease but are just making the choice not to. The reason for the hesitation comes from the people not trusting the companies that are putting out and supplying the vaccines. Many of the people have investigated and educated themselves in these companies and are finding reasons not to trust the medication they are putting out. As news of these spreads, it influences many other people to also then not get the vaccination (Özceylan,).

To start, the main goal needs to be a focus on just supplying the people with the vaccines at a much more efficient manner. A vaccination organization can focus just on the data alone of all the changing countries economics and statistics to see where and when the medicine should go out. Then teams of medical volunteers will go in to give the people the vaccines and medication as needed. This will also help to eliminate any distrust because it comes as a collaborative organization that is working towards the greater good of the people, not looking for any financial boost or takeaway. The people can be educated on what vaccines they need and how to get them as well as teaching people the signs they should be looking for in specific illnesses. Education can be brought in as courses you can take to learn more about vaccination as well as information books or packets that can be distributed to those who want to learn more. This will provide the citizens and struggling countries with the resources they need to help their people and bring accessibility to all.

Work cited

Global Dashboard for vaccine equity: Data Futures Exchange. UNDP. (n.d.). https://data.undp.org/insights/vaccine-equity 

Özceylan, G., Toprak, D., & Esen, E. S. (2020, May 3). Vaccine rejection and hesitation in Turkey. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7227707/ 

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Bangladesh
Delegate Name: Olivia Beard

WHO
Vaccine Access and Distribution
Bangladesh
Olivia Beard, Forest Hills Northern High School

Ensuring equitable access to vaccines remains a vital global health priority, and Bangladesh recognizes that strengthening vaccine distribution systems is essential to achieving universal health coverage and protecting vulnerable populations.Vaccine access and distribution refers to the logistics and processes involved in delivering vaccines to populations, ensuring that they are accessible and administered. Over the past 2 decades, there has been significant progress made. They have not experienced a polio case since 2006, maternal and neonatal tetanus was eliminated in 2008, the rubella control goal was achieved in 2018, and many other vaccinations have been introduced over the past 20 years, with the help of the WHO and other organizations such as Gavi, CDC, and UNICEF. Since 1979, the child immunization rate has gone from just 2% to 81.6%. Though these major improvements have been made, there are still 400,000 children who are under-immunized, and 70,000 who have never received a vaccine before.
Bangladesh has made significant progress in making vaccinations more accessible. Though they have made substantial improvements by increasing vaccination rates, Bangladesh continues to encounter issues in distributing and reaching rural towns. Since the launch of the EPI in 1979, there are now over 5 million children every year who avoid disease because of the vaccinations, delivering a $25 return for every US Dollar invested in the immunization programs. Bangladesh has also used international partnerships and diplomacy to advance access to vaccinations, such as securing funding for its immunization program from organizations such as World Bank, and Asian Development Bank. They are also preparing to begin vaccinating their people, with newer vaccines from other countries, for example, they received funding from international partners to provide the Japanese encephalitis vaccine. The government officials of Bangladesh are very actively involved in this issue, namely Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, who pledged to spend as much money as necessary on vaccine dosages, so no one would be left out. They are also involved in Gavi, WHO, COVAX, and IVI, which fund and support vaccine access and distribution.
The country of Bangladesh stresses to the international community that they ensure equitable and analytical access to vaccinations. This could be done by sharing vaccination technology, specifically technology from developed countries such as mRNA technology and production methods. Bangladesh also supports the strengthening of COVAX, due to their heavy reliance on this program which has delivered over 2 billion vaccinations worldwide. Finally, they support capacity building in developing countries. They have called for investment in cold-chain systems, healthcare worker training, and digital vaccine tracking . These are all crucial to ensure the vaccination of the people of Bangladesh, which has been analyzed by the UN who has dedicated effort to honoring their commitments to SDG 3.8 and SDG 3.b. The republic has continually confirmed its support for WHO’s international frameworks towards increasing vaccine access and distribution. This delegation stands ready to work with member nations of the WHO to ensure that all children and adults, no matter race, identity, income, or geographical location, have equal, convenient, and safe access to life saving vaccines.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Nadia Clark

Country: South Africa
Delegate: Nadia Clark
School: Williamston High School
Committee: WHO
Topic: Vaccine Distribution
Due to the occurrence of Covid-19 back in 2020 becoming a global pandemic it is pertinent that everyone should have immediate access to vaccines when they become available. During the time of the pandemic nearly 60% of the country’s budget went to paying social wages for those who could not work due to the shutdown, and the country’s economy is still recovering.
Due to the devastation, South Africa is pushing to be more prepared when an international health crisis occurs and also expressing how urgent the need for vaccine manufacturing is. South Africa is however not lacking in research or vaccinal development, a number of labs had been established, and prior to the covid epidemic their research resources had been used for the development of HIV vaccines, when Covid struck the focus shifted and turned to a vaccinal development against covid-19. Supported with funding from the World Health Organization South Africa hosts the Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub as of 2021 which is responsible for testing vaccines and assisting other countries in the region with testing. With the country’s predicted growth it is important that the country is able to support larger populations’ health. The people must be protected.
South Africa had the research resources to develop vaccines, but did not have the capability to mass produce and distribute them to its citizens. A study by an organization called VacTask overviewed the potential for South Africa to manufacture its own vaccines, stating its possibility but also that a number of adjustments would need to be made. Data from the World Health Organization shows that roughly 70% of South Africa’s people are getting most of the vaccines they need and only 50-60% of the population are getting all of the vaccines they need. Adjustments need to be made so that 100% of the population is getting all of the vaccines they need. New labs are being built for the development, testing, and perfecting of vaccines to be sent out. In just November Biovac established a product development facility. South Africa continues to contribute research, and vaccines to the WHO, continues to advance South Africa’s National Department of Health, advance South Africa’s South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and advance South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases of South Africa (NICD). If South Africa can gain the resources to manufacture vaccines, a greater access to them within the country for the country’s population will be viable.
South Africa has consistently provided for the UN on multiple accounts and asks that funding as well as resources for vaccinal manufacturing be provided. South Africa would like to see numbers improved so that more people are receiving all of the necessary vaccines, so that fewer people get sick from preventable diseases, so that should anything happen in the future South Africa is ready to protect its people. South Africa would like to work with other members of the UN to further advance vaccine distribution as well as protect the people for the future. Should South Africa have the opportunity to begin mass production of the vaccines they would be distributed to not only South Africa but other countries on the African Continent, as well as those who may need it.

Sources:
https://www.thepandemicfund.org/projects/SOUTH-AFRICA-building-resilient-future-strengthening-pandemic-prevention-preparedness-and-response
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10265267/
https://immunizationdata.who.int/dashboard/regions/african-region/ZAF
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10265761/
https://pandemics.sph.brown.edu/vactask-south-african-vaccine-manufacturing-capabilities-key-findings-and-recommendations
https://www.dsti.gov.za/index.php/media-room/latest-news/4860-government-welcomes-biovac-s-new-product-development-facility

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Grace Hamel

Country: Argentina
Delegate: Grace Hamel
School: Williamston High School
Committee: WHO (ECOSOC)
Topic: Vaccine Access and Distribution

In the past fifty years, at least 154 million lives have been saved by the global immunization efforts. Nonetheless, vaccine access and distribution continues to be a major issue to this day. Immunization is the foundation of the primary healthcare system and as of right now vaccinations have been developed to prevent more than twenty life-threatening diseases. After the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, the world was reminded of the power of vaccines to fight disease and their necessity in today’s society. During the pandemic itself, the world’ population experienced a lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines which showcased the issue of vaccine inequity and hesitancy. As immunization continues to be advanced, it is prominent that we focus on these issues to make improvements in the overall vaccine access and distribution.
Argentina has put importance on the issue of vaccine access and distribution as it has recently faced significant issues with vaccine hesitancy and has seen a decline in routine immunization. Since the year 2015, Argentina has seen a steady decline in routine childhood immunization although the causes behind it remain unclear. This is a significant issue as routine childhood vaccinations are one of the most effective methods in preventing infectious diseases in children. Recently, with the outbreak of COVID-19, Argentina faced limited global vaccine supplies, meaning that, for a period of time, its population faced limited coverage. Though the supply issue was addressed, it left much of their population vulnerable and had major impacts. Lack of access to immunization and vaccine hesitancy remain prominent issues for Argentina today and must be acknowledged.
Argentina suggests targeting these issues by first targeting vaccine mistrust, also known as hesitancy, by first acknowledging that many people become opposed to vaccination simply because of the distance or lack of time to go to health facilities. Oftentimes, these concerns are met with misinformation. This creates hesitancy around the concept of immunization as a whole. Argentina believes that the first step in targeting this problem is first increasing public confidence in vaccines so as to increase the willingness to attend vaccination programs. Additionally, Argentina stands that providing underprivileged countries with vaccine access should be prioritized. Argentina would seek to partner with Spain on this issue and would push to “liberalize” vaccine access and distribution. Additionally, Argentina would like to ally with the countries of the United States, Brazil, and Chile.

Works Cited
Durán, Guillermo, et al. “Impact of the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in Argentina during 2021: An observational quantification of the death probability for confirmed cases in Buenos Aires province.” National Library of Medicine, 2024, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10923657/. Accessed 19 November 2025.
“Framework for Action IA2030.” Immunization Agenda 2030, https://www.immunizationagenda2030.org/framework-for-action. Accessed 19 November 2025.
“Immunization Agenda 2030: A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind.” World Health Organization (WHO), 7 January 2021, https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/strategies/ia2030. Accessed 19 November 2025.
Melchinger, Hannah, et al. “Determinants of undervaccination of routine childhood immunization in Argentina: A cross-sectional study.” ScienceDirect, 2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264410X24009174. Accessed 19 November 2025.
Moscovich, Lorena. “Vaccines and COVID-19. The complex relation between misinformation, mistrust and access.” United Nations Development Programme, 2020, https://www.undp.org/es/argentina/blog/vaccines-and-covid-19-complex-relation-between-misinformation-mistrust-and-access. Accessed 19 November 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Vaccine Access and Distribution
Country: France
Delegate Name: Molly Delp

Country: France
Committee: ECOSOC: WHO
Topic: Vaccine Access and Distribution
Delegate: Molly Delp
School: Williamston High School

Many less economically developed countries are lacking important access to vaccines and their distribution, leading to millions of avoidable deaths worldwide every year. In 2023, 107,500 people worldwide died from the measles virus despite the ability of this disease to be prevented by only two vaccines. Several reasons contribute to this international problem such as economic factors, social factors and access barriers. While there are many ways this issue can be solved, most countries lack the resources, education, and money that is needed to properly address this problem. Everyone should have vaccine access.
France takes the issue of inadequate vaccine access and distribution very seriously as diseases can quickly cause outbreaks, pandemics, and deaths. In 2018, France made it mandatory for children under the age of two to receive 11 different vaccines, causing their immunization rates to increase over the last few years. Additionally, France has held informational campaigns for healthcare workers to promote vaccination. Furthermore, France has implemented a “sanitary pass” since COVID-19 where people have to show proof of their vaccination card or negative test result before they are allowed into certain public places such as healthcare facilities and retirement homes. This measure helped greatly reduce the spread of diseases during high risk times, leading to fewer deaths, and greater safety measures. In terms of global vaccine access and distribution, France has donated over 60 million doses of different vaccines to countries in need. This action greatly supports the COVAX program launched by the World Health Organization with the goal of enabling vaccine coverage in developing countries. With the donation of vaccines, France’s goal is to help other nations increase their vaccination rates and protect vulnerable populations.
France recognizes the importance of this problem, and would propose to solve this global issue by focusing on several important factors. First, as education is an essential resource, France encourages all countries to collaborate efforts on training and educating individuals and healthcare professionals in the field of vaccination. This would help them fully understand the benefits of having everyone vaccinated, and encourage their patients to get vaccinated. France believes each country should set aside an allocated amount of money to put towards vaccines. Countries that do not have the resources to do this should set a plan in place for budgeting and saving goals. Additionally, to help spread vaccine distribution to all nations, France would call upon developed countries to collaborate and work together to help build a fund for necessary resources and vaccines for countries that are less developed. France encourages countries to come together and collaborate to set standards in vaccinations, health standards, and education with the goal of combatting this problem. France would expect to find allies in countries that work with the major health organizations that France partners with.
Works Cited:
“France, a Major Player in Vaccine Solidarity.” Permanent Mission of France, 7 Oct. 2021, onu-geneve.delegfrance.org/France-a-major-player-in-vaccine-solidarity.
“Health Pass : What to Know If You Are Traveling to France.” Consulat Général de France à Washington, 30 June 2022, washington.consulfrance.org/health-pass-what-to-know-if-you-are-traveling-to-france.
“Fast Facts: Global Measles.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 July 2025, www.cdc.gov/global-measles-vaccination/data-research/index.html#:~:text=107%2C500%20lives%20lost%20to%20measles,just%202%20doses%20of%20vaccine.
“Ensuring Vaccine Access for All People.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Oct. 2024, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/basics/vaccine-equity.html.

Position papers for GLIMUN 2025 will appear above this line, with the newest being at the top.