Despite the existence of the COVAX programme, a World Health Organization initiative for equitable and timely access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, WHO noted that rich countries continue to undermine this effort by hoarding the doses produced.
Although the UN Security Council itself decided on Friday to launch a petition to all Member States for equitable access to vaccines, including conflict zones, as well as to fund the COVAX initiative, WHO considered that these measures are not sufficient in the fight against the pandemic.
Read more: Mexico will claim to the UN the inequity of access to COVID vaccines in Latin American countries
This document was approved by more than 110 countries, including the 15 members of the Security Council, of which Mexico is a party.
“I am glad that the Security Council voted for fairness in vaccines, but if we want practical solutions, then the INTELLECTUAL property exemption must be taken seriously and the Security Council can do so if there is political will. Voting for equity is important and we appreciate it, but concrete steps must be taken to increase production, vaccination and end this virus as soon as possible,” said Dr Tedros Adhanon Gebreyesus, DIRECTOR of WHO.
The executive reported that countries with the highest resources continue to undermine COVAX’s effort, which seeks to equitably distribute 2 billion doses against COVID by the end of 2021.
“We have advanced. But that progress is fragile. We need to accelerate the supply and distribution of vaccines, and we cannot do so if some countries continue to approach the manufacturers that are producing VACCINEs with which COVAX counts,” he reiterated.
“I understand very well that all governments have an obligation to protect their own people. But the best way to do this is by suppressing the virus everywhere at the same time. It’s also important to remember that while vaccines are a very powerful tool, they’re not the only tool. We still need to accelerate the distribution of rapid diagnostics, oxygen and dexamethasone,” he warned.
The Director of WHO explained that the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights provides provisions for sharing intellectual property for vaccines, but this issue remains “the elephant in the room” that no one wants to talk about.
“Especially when we talk about intellectual property we see a lack of cooperation and serious resistance. To be honest, I can’t understand it. This pandemic is unprecedented and the virus has taken the whole world hostage. This kind of thing happens once every 100 years. If the provision can’t be applied now, then when? if we can’t apply provisions during difficult times and under unprecedented conditions, then when, this is serious,” he exclaimed
According to WHO, India and South Africa made a proposal to the World Trade Organization to establish a provision of intellectual property rights in COVID-19 vaccines, which would “greatly reduce the cost of vaccines and enable the free flow of medicines and the transfer of knowledge and technology around the world, particularly benefiting developing and middle-income countries”.
Although the proposal has been publicly endorsed by 90 countries, it does not have the support of the European Union, and is still being studied by the WTO.
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