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Opponents resist vaccine patent waiver

Opponents resist vaccine patent waiver

EMMA FARGE A deal on an intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was no closer to acceptance yesterday despite Washington's backing, due to expected scepticism about a new draft, sources close to the talks told Reuters. Negotiations reopened at the WTO on Monday, focused on a highly anticipated revised draft submitted by India, South Africa and dozens of other developing countries last week. A surprise U.S. shift earlier this month to support a patent waiver heaped pressure on remaining opponents like the European Union and Switzerland that are home to numerous drugmakers. But Monday's…
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Vaccine patent waiver will not be enough – WTO chief

Vaccine patent waiver will not be enough – WTO chief

PHILIP BLENKINSOP WAIVING intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines will not be enough to narrow the huge supply gap between rich and poor countries, the head of the World Trade Organization said yesterday. South Africa and India have urged fellow WTO members to waive IP rights on vaccines to boost production. Poorer countries that make up half the world's population have received just 17% of doses, a situation the World Health Organization head has labelled "vaccine apartheid". U.S. President Joe Biden said last week he supported the waiver idea, but the European Union and other developed country opponents said it…
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EXPERT VIEWS: U.S. vaccine patent waiver: a “game changer” for the global south?

EXPERT VIEWS: U.S. vaccine patent waiver: a “game changer” for the global south?

ANURADHA NAGARAJ, ANASTASIA MOLONEY and KIM HARRISBERG THE United States' announcement that it backs waiving intellectual property (IP) protections for COVID-19 vaccines could be a "game-changer" in the global fight to control the pandemic, health experts said on Thursday. The surprise move comes amid fears that India's escalating coronavirus crisis, along with new variants circulating in India and elsewhere, could stymie efforts to curb the disease unless vaccination levels are rapidly ramped up worldwide. South Africa and India are leading efforts to temporarily waive patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines and medicines at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in order to…
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