E-DRUG: WHO Director-General commends United States decision to support
temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines
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https://www.who.int/news/item/05-05-2021-who-director-general-commends-united-states-decision-to-support-temporary-waiver-on-intellectual-property-rights-for-covid-19-vaccines
May 5
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the commitment by
the United States administration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President
Kamala Harris to support the temporary waiver of intellectual property on
COVID-19 vaccines in a bold move to end the pandemic as quickly as possible.
?This is a monumental moment in the fight against COVID-19. The commitment by
the President of the United States Joe Biden and Ambassador Katherine Tai, the
US Trade Representative, to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is
a powerful example of American leadership to address global health challenges,?
said Dr Tedros.
?I commend the United States on its historic decision for vaccine equity and
prioritizing the well-being of all people everywhere at a critical time. Now
let's all move together swiftly, in solidarity, building on the ingenuity and
commitment of scientists who produced life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.?
On Wednesday, Ambassador Tai issued a statement saying the extraordinary
circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic required extraordinary measures
to respond and that the waiving of intellectual property protections on
vaccines was needed to help end the pandemic. The United States would, the
statement continued, participate in World Trade Organization negotiations to
support the temporary waiving of protections, and work with the private sector
and other partners to expand vaccine manufacturing and distribution.
Dr Tedros added: ?The White House?s support for the temporary waiving of
intellectual property on COVID-19 vaccines reflects the wisdom and moral
leadership of the United States to work to end this pandemic. But I am not
surprised by this announcement. This is what I expected from the Administration
of President Biden.?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has been working with partners to scale
up the development and distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments
through the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, a pillar of which is the
COVAX Facility for the equitable sharing of vaccines to at-risk people
worldwide.
Carinne Bruneton
E-Med@healthnet.org
<carinne.bruneton@gmail.com>
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