During the pandemic, billionaires have increased their wealth by $5.5 trillion. At least nine new billionaires have appeared, growing rich on the profits of pharmaceutical companies. At the same time, 160 million suffer from hunger and poverty around the world. Of the ten countries where the gap between rich and poor is at its most, seven are in Africa, with South Africa at the head of the list.
$100 million was given to pharmaceutical companies by various governments to develop vaccines against COVID. They then were able to privatise the profits they made from the vaccines. Whilst 70% of people in wealthier countries have now been vaccinated against COVID, the rate in poorer countries runs at 2.2%. The wealthier nation states are holding on to their supplies of vaccine, whilst poorer countries are denied access.