One of the most pivotal decisions of Joe Biden's presidency is approaching.
On May 5, he must choose between protecting the profits of Big Pharma, or ending the pandemic worldwide by allowing lower-income nations to manufacture COVID vaccines.
On May 5, he must choose between protecting the profits of Big Pharma, or ending the pandemic worldwide by allowing lower-income nations to manufacture COVID vaccines.
Rapidly ending the pandemic worldwide is in Americans' best interests. But that isn't happening.
Only .1% of vaccine doses have been administered in low-income countries.
The longer it takes, the more likely the virus mutates into a vaccine-resistant strain.
Only .1% of vaccine doses have been administered in low-income countries.
The longer it takes, the more likely the virus mutates into a vaccine-resistant strain.
Countries like India and South Africa *could* produce their own vaccines right now, but that's illegal because drugmakers like Moderna control the patents.
Nevermind that Moderna's vaccine was developed thanks to billions in U.S. taxpayer funds.
citizen.org/news/statement…
Nevermind that Moderna's vaccine was developed thanks to billions in U.S. taxpayer funds.
citizen.org/news/statement…
Fortunately, the U.S. can spread the vaccine without sacrificing a single dose for Americans.
We've done it before.
In the AIDS epidemic, groups like ACT UP forced the U.S. to allow other countries to manufacture HIV drugs, as @JoiaMukherjee of @PIH explains in our video.
We've done it before.
In the AIDS epidemic, groups like ACT UP forced the U.S. to allow other countries to manufacture HIV drugs, as @JoiaMukherjee of @PIH explains in our video.
With U.S. backing, the World Trade Organization created a program in 1994 called the TRIPS Council that temporarily waives patent protections for critical medicines.
The U.S. can now use its power at the WTO to grant poorer countries a TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines.
The U.S. can now use its power at the WTO to grant poorer countries a TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines.
Lawmakers like @RosaDeLauro, @JanSchakowsky, @RepAndyLevin, @RepBlumenauer, @RepLloydDoggett, @RepEspaillat & others have pushed Biden to issue a TRIPS waiver.
But the pharmaceutical lobby is fighting hard against it.
But the pharmaceutical lobby is fighting hard against it.
All President Biden needs to do to help make the vaccine available to everyone is to instruct the U.S. Trade Representative to vote in the WTO to grant a TRIPS waiver.
The administration has indicated that it’s “thinking about” it. The next WTO meeting is on May 5th.
The administration has indicated that it’s “thinking about” it. The next WTO meeting is on May 5th.
@justiceisglobal is hosting a national week of action from April 22nd - 29th to call for President Biden to #FreeTheVaccine.
Join an action here. justiceisglobal.org/trips-waiver-w…
Join an action here. justiceisglobal.org/trips-waiver-w…
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