The US has declared its support for a patent waiver for Covid-19 vaccines, in an attempt to enable more widespread access to vaccines around the world. The head of the World Health Organization welcomed the move as a “monumental moment in the fight against Covid-19”. At the moment, coronavirus vaccines are considered the private property of the pharmaceutical corporations, making it harder for poorer countries to get access. A patent waiver will enable other companies to manufacturer the vaccine without violating intellectual property laws. “For one thing, the WTO has to actually adopt the waiver … Second, vaccines are extremely complex formulations.

Source: The Guardian May 06, 2021 10:07 UTC