Working for Justice

In 2020, ASJ pursued justice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Honduras. We investigated purchases of ventilators and mobile hospitals to catch corruption that hurt Hondurans’ health. Learn more about our work during COVID-19. Now as we hope that vaccines signal the end of the pandemic, we have another opportunity to work for justice.

In the U.S., 37% of people have received at least one dose (as of April 16, 2021). The promise of being able to safely hug and gather with loved ones is exciting for all of us. At the same time, Honduras has only received some 50,000 vaccines and current projections show that Honduras won’t be fully vaccinated this year. In fact, only 10% of people in developing countries like Honduras are likely to be vaccinated in the next 12 months. We should all be getting out of the pandemic together, but there is an unjust gap in who can access life-saving vaccines.

How Did We Get Here?

Mismanagement and poor communication from the Honduran government have certainly played a role in the country's low vaccine stock. But that’s not the sole reason. Last summer, wealthier countries were able to preorder more vaccines than they needed from multiple companies, meaning most developing countries couldn’t start making those deals until early 2021. In addition, U.S. contracts and international patent rules make it harder to donate or replicate COVID-19 vaccines and treatments at affordable rates. Find in-depth information and answers to frequently asked questions here.