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.
