“Monumental moment”: US renounces COVID vaccine patents | Coronavirus pandemic News

The head of the World Health Organization has welcomed the fact that the US will accept a waiver against coronavirus vaccines.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed him Decision taken by the United States to protect the intellectual property exemptions from coronavirus vaccines, saying it is a “monumental moment” in the fight against the deadly virus.

WHO Executive Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday praised the Biden administration’s support for the waiver of intellectual property rights as an example of “leadership in addressing global health challenges”.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been under increasing pressure to support the World Trade Organization (WTO) proposal to renounce patents, a move that would allow the country to manufacture the COVID-19 jab needed.

“Now let’s all come together quickly, in solidarity, based on the ingenuity and commitment of the scientists who created the # COVID19 vaccines for life,” Tedros reported.

It is a monumental moment in the fight against it # COVID-19. Commitment @POTUS Joe Biden & @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai accepting the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of leadership in addressing global health challenges. pic.twitter.com/3iBt3jfdEr

– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 5, 2021

Biden, who oversaw the rapid spread of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S., has faced growing cals to protect the global vaccine equity and share the country’s vaccine supply with highly successful nations abroad.

Dozens of countries, as well as rights groups, former world leaders and public health experts, have stepped up patent applications in recent weeks amid a rise in the deadly COVID-19 in several countries in recent weeks.

In a statement earlier on Tuesday, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Washington will negotiate trade with the World Trade Organization (WTO)

“These negotiations will take time given the nature of the institution’s consensus and the complexity of the issues involved,” Tai said.

Over the weekend, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said Tai would hold talks with the WTO on “how we can get this vaccine distributed, give more licenses, and share it.”

Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna, from Washington, DC, said Biden has been pressured by members of his Democratic Party to refuse vaccine patents.

“It’s something that President Biden promised in his campaign. However, since he came to office, there has been a lot of pressure on the other side as well, on the part of many pharmaceutical companies, not to give up,” Hanna said.

He added that the WTO, which is in agreement, must now meet to negotiate a text that all member countries should agree on.

“Of course, there is a lot of work … before this becomes a reality. But the decision of the Biden administration is something that gives a tremendous boost,” Hanna said.

It was shipped to South Africa and India in October last year request To waive intellectual property rights to vaccines and other medical technologies needed to prevent coronavirus. More than Another 100 countries they have since accepted that call.

“Given the current context of the global emergency, it is important for WTO members to work together to ensure that intellectual property rights such as patents, industrial design, copyright and protection of undisclosed information do not create barriers to accessing affordable products.” .

The demand for refusal has grown urgently because several countries, including India, are struggling COVID-19 destructive waves.

Doctors Without Borders in April he called them rich nations “Put yourself on the right side of history and join the proponents of the patent waiver.”