Campaigners are calling out big pharma companies, demanding the suspension of the patents. This will allow faster production of generic and cheaper COVID-19 vaccines for low-income countries. Anika Khan reports.
- Since Monday, campaigners are flooding the inboxes, switchboards, and social media of big pharmaceutical companies calling out for the suspension of patents on COVID-19 vaccines.
- To join the action are organizations like Global Justice Now, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, Students for Global Health, Stop Aids, Just Treatment from the UK. Health GAP from the US, Access to Medicines from Ireland, and Section 26 from South Africa, have all joined the protest.
- They have targeted AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer, demanding their help to make cheap coronavirus vaccines available to poorer nations around the globe.
- According to reports, rich countries have secured vaccine doses for their entire population. On the other hand, more than 70 countries managed to secure covid-19 vaccines for only 10% of their population by next year.
- They have urges these large pharmaceutical companies to drop their monopolies over successful COVID-19 vaccines so that other companies can make affordable generic supplies needed to vaccinate the entire world population.
- South Africa and the Indian Government proposed to suspend patents on all COVID-19 vaccines until the pandemic could be brought under control. This was followed by oppositions of many rich countries the decision of which is still being debated at the WHO.
Protecting patents will maximize profits but will cost many more lives. So stand with the campaigners and demand for a people’s vaccine during a global health crisis.
