consensus among member states. The European Commission
said it would begin discussions on waivers but Germany, home to BioNTech, the firm that created the vaccine being marketed by Pfizer, said it
opposed a waiver because “the protection of the intellectual property is a source of innovation and must remain so”.
However, the Indian government has taken a different line domestically: At a hearing in India’s Supreme Court this month, the court asked the government whether it intended to issue any compulsory licenses to companies to manufacture drugs like remdesivir that are being used for Covid-19 treatment.
The government reportedly
80 million COVID-19 vaccines to be shared across world
20 May 2021, 00:56 GMT+10
By Pragya KaushikaNew Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): Noting that India has been a major priority for Washington given the surge of COVID-19 cases in the second wave of pandemic, President Biden s point-person for global pandemic response has said that no decision has been taken regarding ulitmate allocation of 80 million vaccines that will be shared with other countries by the US government.
Gayle Smith, the United States state department s coordinator for global COVID-19 response and Health security, said that the US response to the pandemic started with the announcement by US President Joe Biden earlier this week that the country will be sharing 20 million vaccines from its own stocks in addition to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca and together 80 million vaccines will make the US largest vaccine sharer in the world.
President Biden just offered U.S. support for a World Trade Organization (WTO) proposal that would give competitors unbridled access to the most important intellectual property in the world right now: American COVID-19 vaccine technology.
Noting that India has been a major priority for Washington, President Joe Biden's point-person for global pandemic response has said that no decision has been taken regarding the ultimate allocation of 80 million vaccines.
China backs India, South Africa proposal for IPR waiver
ANI
19 May 2021, 22:19 GMT+10
Beijing [China], May 19 (ANI): Extending its support to India and South Africa s proposal for a temporary waiver of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for coronavirus vaccines, China said that it is in favour of all efforts for fair vaccine access. China fully understands and is supportive of the developing world s demand for an intellectual property rights waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday. This would be in line with the idea that COVID-19 vaccines are a global public good , and part and parcel of (China s) efforts to build a global community of health for all, the South China Morning Post quoted him as saying.