This study examines the political economy surrounding access to COVID-19 vaccines across Southeast Asian countries, emphasising the institutional, ideational, and actor interests at play across trade and health sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using a scoping review of existing literature, the study maps the levels of vaccine access in countries across the region at critical COVID-19 pandemic junctures and delves into the types of vaccines acquired by each nation within the Southeast Asia region, offering insights into the discrepancies in vaccine availability. This review will help delineate universal barriers to vaccine access shared among all Southeast Asian countries, as well as those specific to the region.

Through interviews with key interviewees, including former and current policymakers, experts, diplomats, business actors, and civil societies in Southeast Asian countries, the study aims to identify regional challenges and country-specific barriers to vaccine access in the context of international trade and health policy.

By elucidating these complexities, the research aims to contribute to health equity in the global south, particularly Southeast Asia, and shed light on the dynamics of equitable vaccine access.

This seminar is Mutiara's Confirmation of Candidature milestone presentation. As such, the presentation is a closed event for RegNet staff, visitors and students only.

About the speaker

Mutiara Indriani is an Australia Awards PhD scholar and a Research Officer at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), The Australian National University (ANU), where she applies an interdisciplinary approach to investigating access to COVID-19 vaccines in Southeast Asia.

COVID protocols

The ANU strongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ACT government’s COVID Smart behaviours can be accessed here.

This seminar presentation is in-person only. Registration is not required for in-person attendance as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing any longer.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Map showing the proportion of new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in July 2021, using WHO data, illustrating disproportionate impact on South East Asia, from Worldmapper, free to use under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.