Several world leaders have praised the U.S. move to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines for poor nations by suspending patent protections on the shotsGENEVA -- Several world leaders Thursday praised the U.S. call to remove patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help poor countries obtain shots. Activists and humanitarian institutions cheered after the U.S. reversed course Wednesday and called for a waiver of intellectual property protections on the vaccine. Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca — all companies with licensed COVID-19 vaccines — had no immediate comment, though Moderna has long said it will not pursue rivals for patent infringement during the pandemic. China and Russia — two other major COVID-19 vaccine makers — didn't express a position but were open to further discussion, the official said. The industry has contended, too, that production of the vaccines is complicated and can’t be ramped up simply by easing patent rights.

Source: ABC News May 06, 2021 09:31 UTC