Why Aren’t Indonesia and The Philippines Getting the Vaccines They Need? COVID-19 vaccine distribution has been vastly unequal around the globe. This happened because early on, wealthier countries like the US, UK, and Singapore invested billions in pharmaceutical companies working on the vaccine. Therefore, they got priority access to the vaccines. Large unvaccinated populations can be breeding grounds for dangerous mutations of the virus, experts warn. So, the response is the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative set up to help countries get more equitable access. Indonesia and the Philippines each signed up to COVAX for 20% of their populations. Highlight vocabulary: Equitable The meaning of the vocabulary: Treating everyone fairly and in the same way. Fair, just, and impartial. Example: 1. The government is responsible in providing an equitable education for the whole nation. 2. A policy must be fair and equitable for everyone not just a few people. 3. The COVAX guaranteed that they will do equitable vaccine distributions all around the world.