How can COVID-19 vaccines benefit people? A study based on the theory of the commons

COVID-19 vaccination is a fundamental step toward controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and defusing the public health crisis it has caused. Existing studies have demonstrated that equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines can only be achieved if these vaccines are treated as public goods. The question remains how to transform COVID-19 vaccines into public goods. In this paper, based on the theory of commons governance, the theoretical mechanism is analyzed to realize the adequate distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, feasible methods on how COVID-19 vaccines can benefit the people through the successful popularization of these vaccines in China are summarized. The results show that to ensure adequate supply of COVID-19 vaccines, government intervention is required because the government can expand the supply of the vaccine by balancing individual benefits for producing enterprises and the overall benefits for society. The government can also guarantee the right of every member in society to receive COVID-19 vaccines, thus enabling these vaccines to benefit the whole nation. By analyzing how COVID-19 vaccines benefit the people, this paper further verifies that national intervention plays an essential role in the supply and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in both developed and developing countries. It may further mean that state intervention can play an essential role in continuing to respond to major public health events in the possible future.