|
These public health experts say vaccinating the vast majority of the world’s population is the best way to prevent further coronavirus variants of concern, including variants that are more infectious or render our current vaccines less effective.
Over a year since the vaccine roll-out started, the vaccine gap between rich and poor countries still yawns. Just 10% of people in low-income countries have received a single dose. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that 90% of people with severe cases of Omicron are unvaccinated. It’s a moral disgrace.
As has been clear from the start of the pandemic, to achieve this we need to suspend intellectual property on Covid-19 vaccines and we need pharma companies to share their recipes with manufacturers in the global south. We know it can be done and it would transform the global pandemic response. A recent report found more than 100 facilities that could produce mRNA vaccines in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Among the list of scientists and public health experts are former chief executive of the NHS in England, Lord Nigel Crisp, and Nobel Prize winner, Sir Richard Roberts. They are also joined by several advisers to the WHO and 13 members of SAGE, the government’s official advisors on the pandemic. It’s a group with huge scientific authority – and having their weight on our side at this time is vital.
The urgency of this campaign will not diminish this year. With the WHO now recommending third vaccine doses as standard, the level of fully vaccinated people in low-income countries is effectively back to zero. Even after many promises of production gains, the supply of effective vaccines is set to fall below what is needed, as companies continue to hoard their recipes and limit production.
The donations model has failed and low- and middle-income countries cannot rely on the pharmaceutical behemoths of the western world to provide them sufficient, affordable vaccines. Rightfully, these countries are continuing to demand autonomy and control over production. If we want to end this pandemic once and for all, and be prepared for future health crises too, we must make sure they get it.
Will you tell Boris Johnson to side with the scientists and finally back the suspension of vaccine patents by sharing the video today?
|
