Unilateralism and the Challenges of Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution in Africa: A Theoretical Discourse

Ogbuka, Ikenna Mathew and Ezechi, Kingsley C. and Onyishi, Anthony U. (2022) Unilateralism and the Challenges of Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution in Africa: A Theoretical Discourse. GOUni Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 10 (1). pp. 202-214. ISSN 2550-7265

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Abstract

The study examines how the unilateral actions of States regarding the purchase and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines undermined Africa’s effort to effectively secure the vaccine for its citizens. The study hypothesised that due to unilateral decisions and actions of great powers, COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Africa has been grossly inequitable, viz a vis that of Asia, Europe and America. Unilateralismand Vaccine Nationalism on the one hand; and multilateralism and Cosmopolitanism on the other hand are two broad categories of theories used to unearth the philosophical foundations of States’ actions regarding the acquisition and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Documentary method of data collection from secondary sources was adopted to gather relevant data for the study; while the qualitative descriptive method was used to analyse the data obtained. The study therefore concludes and recommends that Africa needs to rely on Africa to proffer solutions to its problems without relying so much on external powers. To do this, the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) must be strengthened financially and materially to deal with not just covid-19, but future viral pandemics that the continent might be entangled in. Keywords: Unilateralism, Multilateralism, cosmopolitanism, Vaccine Nationalism, Covid-19.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions:	Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Depositing User:	miss Sylvia Onyia
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2025 23:55
Last Modified:	24 Aug 2025 23:55
URI:	http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5240

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