Abstract:
How did Nordic countries manage the tensions and ethical dilemmas of national health security and international solidarity during the Covid-19 vaccine response? This DIIS working paper examines Denmark's Covid-19 vaccine procurement and distribution strategy within the framework of the SCANVAX project on Nordic vaccine diplomacy. The Danish case shows the complexities of how a small European state managed pandemic responses through multilateral frameworks while pursuing national interests, highlighting persistent tensions between vaccine nationalism and global health solidarity during health crises. Denmark's experience illustrates the multifaceted realities of vaccine diplomacy, where even countries with strong international development commitments prioritise domestic health security when faced with uncertain vaccine supplies, while simultaneously using surplus vaccines as tools for broader foreign policy objectives.