The scale and complexity of the allocation, distribution and prioritisation of the Covid-19 vaccines are unprecedented. The 2020 UNODC publication Covid-19 vaccines and corruption risks: preventing corruption in the manufacture, allocation and distribution of vaccines identifies potential corruption risks related to the deployment of Covid-19 vaccines and how these risks may be mitigated.

The paper looks at corruption risks in the development, deployment, procurement of vaccines. It also describes corruption risks in emergency funding, the proliferation of substandard and falsified vaccines, nepotism and favouritism in vaccine access, and corruption in vaccine policy decisions. To mitigate these risks, UNODC provides both immediate and long-term policy recommendations.