ABSTRACT
Several COVID-19 candidate vaccines have been approved by multiple drug regulatory agencies and are being deployed globally. To ensure that everyone enjoys the highest attainable standard of health and achieves the full realisation of their right to health, states are obliged to prevent and control epidemics. Vaccine uptake depends on target populations exercising their right to health and autonomously embracing vaccination. However, while voluntariness lies at the heart of autonomous decision-making, structural factors can vitiate self-determination. This chapter highlights how geopolitics, corporate self-interest, fiscal constraints, sovereignty, governance, protectionism and nationalism impact on COVID-19 vaccine procurement and undermine patient autonomy.
