Some of the most alarming examples of the inequity in accessing this Human Right are found among Indigenous Peoples. According to the periodic report by The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, "The State of the World's Indigenous Peoples,": "Indigenous peoples suffer higher rates of ill health and have dramatically shorter life expectancy than other groups living in the same countries. This inequity results in Indigenous Peoples suffering unacceptable health problems, and they are more likely to experience disabilities and die at a younger age than their non-indigenous counterparts."

Many factors contribute to this systematic denial of these most basic Human Rights that crosscuts through the diversity of Indigenous Peoples in all continents: "living conditions, income levels, employment rates, access to safe water, sanitation, health services and food availability (...) destruction to their lands, territories and resources (...) climate change and environmental contamination (...) geographical isolation and poverty, which results in not having the means to pay the high cost for transport or treatment (...) discrimination, racism and a lack of cultural understanding and sensitivity (...) [and] lack of data."

Throughout all its stages, this fight Indigenous Peoples had to take up with COVID-19 reveals the inequity they face in accessing public health in general: higher risk of exposure, lack of protection from the socio-economic fallout of the disease, scarcity of medical equipment, tragic global vaccine and medicine distribution. And, as it has become clear by the current vaccine rollout, not even selfishness has managed to drive high-income countries to move boldly towards more equitable access to healthcare for all human beings. Instead, sadly, ignoring the possibility of new mutations arising from vaccine inequity seems to be the preferred course of action.