Some of World’s Best and Worst Vaccine Drives Are in the Pacific
- Several nations have already inoculated all eligible adults
- Papua New Guinea won’t reach 20% by year-end: Lowy Institute
Papua New Guinea's prime minister James Marape receives a dose of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Port Moresby.
Photographer: Gorethy Kenneth/AFP/Getty Images
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A stark vaccine divide has emerged in the Pacific, with the region’s island nations responsible for some of the world’s best -- and worst -- inoculation efforts, according to research from the Lowy Institute.
Nations such as Nauru, Palau and Niue have already fully vaccinated almost their entire eligible adult population against Covid-19, while the inoculation rate in Fiji, Tonga and Samoa exceeds 90%.