Wealthy nations once lauded as successes lag in vaccinations

FILE - In the May 10, 2021, file photo, technicians prepare Pfizer vaccines at the newly opened COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Sydney, Australia. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (James Gourley/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2021, file photo, a medical worker fills a syringe with a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Tokyo Medical Center in Tokyo. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Rangi McLean receives his COVID-19 vaccine at the Manurewa Marae vaccination center in south Auckland, New Zealand, April 8, 2021. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (Michael Craig/New Zealand Herald via AP)

FILE - In this May 10, 2021, file photo, a Fire and Rescue worker receives a Pfizer vaccine at the newly opened COVID-19 vaccination center in Sydney, Australia. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (Nick Moir/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - In this May 10, 2021, file photo, Australian swimmer Cate Campbell receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination at the Queensland Academy of Sport in Brisbane, Australia. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (AP Photo/John Pye, File)

A patient waits to receive his COVID-19 vaccine at the Manurewa Marae vaccination center in south Auckland, New Zealand, April 8, 2021. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (Michael Craig/New Zealand Herald via AP)

New Zealand olympian shot putter Dame Valerie Adams reacts as she receives her COVID-19 vaccination in Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, April 17, 2021. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (Brett Phibbs/New Zealand Herald via AP)

A medical worker checks the form of his colleague before giving her a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Tokyo Medical Center in Tokyo Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Some wealthy nations that were most praised last year for controlling the coronavirus are now lagging far behind in getting their people vaccinated — and some, especially in Asia, are seeing COVID-19 cases grow. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)