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(Adds WHO chief)
May 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday
supported waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19
vaccines, bowing to mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers
and more than 100 other countries, but angering pharmaceutical
companies.
Following are reactions to the latest developments.
WHO CHIEF TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS
Biden's move is a "MONUMENTAL MOMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
#COVID19", reflecting "the wisdom and moral leadership of the
United States", Tedros said on Twitter.
GAVI, THE GLOBAL VACCINE ALLIANCE
"We recognise also the significance of the (Biden)
administration’s commitment to work towards increasing raw
material production which will have an immediate impact on
alleviating current global supply constraints.
"Gavi urges now that in the interests of global equitable
access the US supports manufacturers to transfer not only IP but
also know-how in a bid to urgently boost global production."
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS
& ASSOCIATIONS (IFPMA)
"Waiving patents of COVID-19 vaccines will not increase
production nor provide practical solutions needed to battle this
global health crisis. On the contrary, it is likely to lead to
disruption.
"The only way to ensure quick scaling up of and equitable
vaccine access to all those in need remains pragmatic and
constructive dialogue with the private sector."
SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT
"President (Cyril) Ramaphosa welcomes the position adopted
by the United States as an important reinforcement of a campaign
led by South Africa and India on behalf of emerging economies
that face vaccine shortages and production challenges.
"The anticipated temporary waiver provides a global response
to COVID-19. The proposal establishes a global solution to
enhance manufacturing and boost supply capacity, and enables
coordination and access to information currently under patent
protection.
"For countries that do not currently have manufacturing
capacity on certain medical technologies, the waiver could open
up more supply options and avoid countries being reliant on only
one or two suppliers. Where supply capacity currently exists, it
can be repurposed to COVID vaccine production and in this way
improve the supply available to all nations."
AUSTRALIAN TRADE MINISTER DAN TEHAN
"We welcome this positive development and look forward to
working with the U.S. and others to find solutions that boost
the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
"Close collaboration between governments and vaccine
manufacturers will remain vital."
NEW ZEALAND TRADE MINISTER DAMIEN O'CONNOR
"New Zealand supports the waiver of IP protections on
vaccines as an important part of our collective efforts to
address the human catastrophe of the pandemic.
"We are also working in APEC, the WTO and other fora to
address other elements of vaccine supply issues including
through the supply chains that are limiting the availability of
vaccines regionally and globally."
ITALIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH ROBERTO SPERANZA
"Biden's breakthrough on free access to vaccine patents for
all is an important step forward. Europe must also play its
part. This pandemic has taught us that we can only win
together."
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
"It is crucial that the waiver not just apply to
preventative vaccines, but it should also cover other medical
tools for COVID-19, including treatments for people who fall ill
and diagnostics to help curb the spread, as originally proposed
seven months ago.
"While this decision means other manufacturers will have the
information they need from pharmaceutical corporations - and the
legal permission - to help scale up global supply and get more
shots into the arms of people everywhere, this won't happen
immediately.
"For the remaining countries that continue to oppose the WTO
waiver..., they must drop their objections and put people’s
health before pharmaceutical profits, and waive IP on all
COVID-19 medical tools, including vaccines."
OXFAM HEALTH POLICY MANAGER ANNA MARRIOTT
“In this moment of crisis, we applaud the decision of
President Biden and his administration to pursue a new path that
prioritizes public health over private profits.
"This is a testament to the widespread public movement
calling for an end to vaccine monopolies.
“We are at a crucial point in the fight against coronavirus,
yet we have remained essentially at the mercy of a handful of
giant pharmaceutical corporations that have monopoly control
over the life-saving technologies we all need. The UK shouldn't
be left standing on the wrong side of history and must join the
U.S. in doing the right thing for humanity.
“We will now look to the White House for leadership in a
strong WTO outcome, in urgently insisting on the transfer of
technologies through the World Health Organization COVID-19
Technology Access pool, and in investing strategically to build
up regional vaccine hubs to defeat this and future pandemics."
GORDON BROWN, U.N. GLOBAL AMBASSADOR AND FORMER BRITISH
PRIME MINISTER
"I welcome the American decision on temporary patent waiver
which makes the COVID-19 vaccine accessible. Now we must make
the vaccine affordable. No one is safe until everyone is safe
and on June 11, at the G7 meeting, the richest countries should
make the momentous decision to pay two thirds of the $60 billion
cost of vaccinating the world."
(Reporting by Reuters staff; Editing by Nick Macfie and Mark
Heinrich)
