President Joe Biden applauds a man receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., April 6, 2021. (CNS photo/Reuters/Kevin Lamarque) Washington — The Biden administration's May 5 announcement that it supports waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines — as a means to expand the vaccine's production and distribution — is a move the Vatican has been suggesting. At a February Word Trade Organization meeting, a Vatican representative said this step "would be a strong signal demonstrating real commitment and engagement and thus moving from declaration to action in favor of the entire human family." Prior to the May announcement, the United States has not backed the proposal to waive the vaccines' patent rights made by India and South Africa and supported by many congressional Democrats.