United States backs plan to waive Covid-19 vaccine patents
Biden had been under intense pressure to waive protections for vaccine manufacturers, especially amid criticism that rich nations were hoarding shots.
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WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden s administration on Wednesday announced support for a global waiver on patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines, offering hope to poor nations that have struggled to access the life-saving doses.
India, where the death toll hit a new daily record amid fears the peak is still to come, has been leading the fight within the World Trade Organization (WTO) to allow more drugmakers to manufacture the vaccines a move pharma giants oppose.
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The United States, as well as other wealthy countries, have faced pressure to support a proposal under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that would temporarily waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines – at a time when cases are surging in parts of the world like India.
Under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement, pharmaceutical companies are awarded monopoly control over vaccine production. This has sparked a backlash amid the pandemic, though, because it could impact poor countries from ramping up their own supplies.
Now the WTO has reportedly urged member nations to each temporarily ease the rules protecting intellectual property for vaccinations in an effort to make vaccines more accessible for struggling countries.
Ramping up vaccine production, TRIPS waiver to figure prominently in India-EU summit By Naveen Kapoor | Updated: May 06, 2021 21:51 IST
New Delhi [India], May 6 (ANI): Ramping up global production of vaccines, removing hindrances in supply chains and TRIPS waiver will be part of discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EU leaders on Saturday during the India-EU summit, EU officials have said.
Prime Minister Modi will participate in the meeting along with the heads of state or government of all the 27 EU member states. The EU+27 have met in this format only once before, with the US President Joe Biden in March this year.
After US nod, EU, NZ too ready to discuss waiver of IPR on vaccines Sidhartha
NEW DELHI: The Biden administration s backing for talks on Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) flexibility for vaccines at WTO has prodded others such as the European Union, a key opponent, out of its waiver hesitancy, but trade negotiators are treading with caution.
The move, first proposed by India and South Africa in October, is seen to be critical to ramp up and democratise Covid-19 vaccine and drug production and increase access in developing and poor countries. For months, there was a stalemate as the proposal was opposed by developed countries.
Winnipeg Free Press By: James McCarten, The Canadian Press Posted:
Last Modified: 3:42 PM CDT Thursday, May. 6, 2021 Save to Read Later
WASHINGTON - Canada agreed Thursday to join World Trade Organization talks on waiving the rules that protect vaccine trade secrets a measure drug companies and a number of world leaders say would only slow down production.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to speakers appearing by video during a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday May 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
WASHINGTON - Canada agreed Thursday to join World Trade Organization talks on waiving the rules that protect vaccine trade secrets a measure drug companies and a number of world leaders say would only slow down production.