Introduction

The social protection system is an indispensable institution that delivers support to disadvantaged groups in any society. It is an essential process that keeps the community viable and has the capacity to bridge social inequalities. A modern social protection system includes removing barriers to high-quality healthcare, income protection (including for informal workers), job protection, and, finally, preventing vulnerable groups from falling into poverty.

The global supply of COVID-19 vaccines has been controlled by countries with financial and political means, leaving behind most of the world’s developing regions, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Almost 75 percent of the approximately 5 billion vaccine doses administered globally have been used by just 10 countries.^[1]