![]() However, making the Moderna vaccine likely involves other companies’ patented equipment and processes as well, so waiving patent protections on one piece of the process may not help other companies make the entire “recipe.” government, and in fact, Moderna has pledged not to enforce its patents related to the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. ![]() Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine-one of two now in use based on an mRNA platform-was paid for largely by the U.S. They argue that the public already has paid once or twice for such innovation, either upfront in research and development (R&D) costs or through purchase guarantees of these products, or both. Proponents of a TRIPS waiver wonder how it can be right for a multinational vaccine manufacturer to hold exclusive rights that can stop other firms from stepping up to meet the need for vaccines, particularly in markets not being served by current vaccine producers. No single vaccine manufacturer can produce enough vaccines to cover the globe, and demand has far outstripped supply, with high-income countries taking the lion’s share of reserved doses. Sharing the know-how behind making COVID-19 vaccines is key to not only scaling up production, but also bringing forward the second generation of vaccines we will need to address emerging variants. What’s the rationale behind waiving intellectual property protections for COVID vaccines? The TRIPS waiver just seeks to temporarily suspend these protections until the pandemic has ended, so the world can better access the knowledge needed to combat the worst pandemic in a century. Middle-income countries like India came into compliance by 2005. The TRIPS Agreement changed that, and after a transition period of 10 years, ratcheted up these requirements on all but the least developed countries. Before this was negotiated, more than 50 countries did not recognize patent protection on pharmaceutical products. This Agreement, pushed by knowledge-based economies like the United States and the multinational, research-intensive pharmaceutical industry, imposed a base of protections for intellectual property rights, from patents to copyrights. In 1995, when the World Trade Organization came into existence, those signing up as members agreed that in exchange for the lowering of barriers to trade, they would abide by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS. The TRIPS waiver refers to a proposal, advanced by the governments of South Africa and India, to the World Trade Organization to waive intellectual property rights protection for technologies needed to prevent, contain, or treat COVID-19 “until widespread vaccination is in place globally, and the majority of the world’s population has developed immunity.” What’s the TRIPS waiver for COVID vaccines all about? So, MD, MPA, a professor of the practice in International Health, explains the waiver and what it could mean for COVID-19 vaccines. The Biden administration announced it would seek a “TRIPS waiver” of intellectual property protections related to COVID vaccines. ![]() Would we shut down again? What will the United States do the next time a deadly virus comes knocking on the door?įor the latest news, sign up for our free newsletter. Here’s what you need to know about Arcturus. The latest omicron offshoot is particularly prevalent in India. 1.16, has been designated as a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization. New covid variant: A new coronavirus subvariant, XBB. Here’s who should get the second covid booster and when. The latest on coronavirus boosters: The FDA cleared the way for people who are at least 65 or immune-compromised to receive a second updated booster shot for the coronavirus. Tracking covid cases, deaths: Covid-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States last year with covid deaths dropping 47 percent between 20. Here’s what the end of the covid public health emergency means for you. ![]() End of the public health emergency: The Biden administration ended the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic on May 11, just days after WHO said it would no longer classify the coronavirus pandemic as a public health emergency. ![]()
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