The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed our everyday lives. To the way we socialize to the way we work, the pandemic has shown just how flawed our government systems are around the world. Low income students are less likely to have access to high speed internet or other technology, which is crucial to succeeding during the era of Zoom learning. Families, whose jobs are no longer available, are left uninsured when a disease is ravishing communities.

As a second year college student at the University of Illinois, the transition has been difficult. Not being able to engage with your peers or professors in person has made learning more challenging. However, I am lucky my university is able to provide the resources needed to succeed, such as programs to borrow computers. Because these resources are limited in underdeveloped countries, students are resulting to in person instruction, which only makes the spread of the virus increase.

Now that there are multiple vaccines available, it seems the end of the pandemic is right around the corner. For Americans, Canadians, and other citizens in rich nations, reaching herd immunity by 2022 is much more realistic because of the pre-ordering of doses.

“Release the excess vaccines that you’ve ordered and hoarded,” announced South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa. According to AJ+, only 1 in 10 people will receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the 70 poorest nations. Rich countries purchased 53% of available vaccines, while rich nations represent only 14% of the world’s population, leaving poorer countries out to dry. Canada, for example, is under scrutiny for buying enough vaccines to vaccinate Canadians “five times.”

While Canada has committed to donating excess doses to countries in need, it doesn’t help that countries like Pakistan and Ukraine are falling behind. These countries have yet to begin rolling out vaccines at the rate that the US and the UK have. People are dying, and it is poor individuals who are continuing to suffer the most. Vaccine distribution in underdeveloped countries must begin quickly, and rich nations should pull their resources together to help with the process. The pandemic is a worldwide issue that is killing millions, and every nation needs to work together to end it.