Dear friends,
Covid vaccines could save millions of lives
--
but there's a
catch.
The vaccines
are owned by Big Pharma giants and they can’t produce
enough for everyone fast -- the world's richest countries have
already bought most of the doses, leaving poorer countries
facing a massive shortfall.
But it doesn't have to be
like this.
In days, governments will vote on a global
plan to suspend all patents for Covid-19 vaccines,
allowing production to be massively scaled up.
Even
the poorest could have
access! Let's make it happen!
Add your name to demand vaccines for
all, starting by scrapping the patents, and then
pass this on -- when we reach 1 million signatures, Avaaz will
deliver our call to the crucial summit:
Sign now: Share the vaccine with the world!
Pharma giants argue they need patents to reward their
research with exclusive profits. But
these vaccines
were developed with billions of dollars of public
money, and millions of lives hang in the
balance.
Patents must be lifted -- and
it's happened before. In 2001, after years of public
pressure, the countries of the world agreed to free HIV/Aids
treatments from patents, allowing affordable, generic versions
to be made, saving millions of lives. Now we must do it
again.
India and South Africa, supported by many
developing nations, have just tabled an emergency proposal at
the World Trade Organisation to temporarily suspend the
patents for Covid-related vaccines and treatments, until the
pandemic is over.
Governments will vote
in days - so let’s create a huge wave of public
support to help pass the emergency proposal, and
make
Covid treatments available to everyone! Add your name and
share with your friends: Sign now: Share the vaccine with the world!
Throughout the pandemic,
our movement has fought for those hit hardest. We’ve pushed
for global cooperation and debt relief, and donated millions
to help the most vulnerable. Now, with vaccines arriving in
record time, let's show up again to ensure no one is left
behind. We have a once-in-a-life opportunity to see the world
coming together to fight for one shared goal. Let's grab
it!
With hope and
determination,
Spyro, Risalat, Marie, Anneke,
Patricia, Muriel, Marta, Luis and the whole Avaaz
team
More Information:
Rich countries are taking
the vaccine fast lane. Others could wait years (Axios)
https://www.axios.com/how-long-countries-will-wait-for-covid-vaccine-c3106aaf-6ca8-4c7f-af89-ac9b347b25a6.htmlCOVID-19
drug and vaccine patents are putting profit before people (The
Conversation)
https://theconversation.com/covid-19-drug-and-vaccine-patents-are-putting-profit-before-people-149270Pfizer
vaccine: Over 80% of doses already sold to world’s richest
countries (The Independent)
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-pfizer-vaccine-doses-latest-uk-supplies-b1721162.htmlThe
Covid vaccine will benefit humanity – we should all own the
patent (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/12/covid-vaccine-patent-pharmaceutical-industry-profits-public-sectorPoorest
Countries Could Be Left Behind As Wealthy Nations Buy Up Covid
Vaccine (The Huffington Post)
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-equal-access_uk_5fa9707fc5b6f21920de64be
