🇪🇺 Dear EU Citizens,
🇬🇧 Dear UK Citizens,
🇺🇸 Dear US Citizens,
🇦🇺 Dear Australian Citizens,
Do you want a longer pandemic?
No, of course not.
But your governments, by blocking wider production of vaccines globally, are prolonging the pandemic.
hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
🇬🇧 Dear UK Citizens,
🇺🇸 Dear US Citizens,
🇦🇺 Dear Australian Citizens,
Do you want a longer pandemic?
No, of course not.
But your governments, by blocking wider production of vaccines globally, are prolonging the pandemic.
hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
By blocking wider production of vaccines globally, these governments are prolonging the global pandemic, meaning:
⬛️ more death;
⬛️ more economic disruption;
⬛️ more chance for new variants to emerge that are more virulent, more deadly and/or resistant to current vaccines.
⬛️ more death;
⬛️ more economic disruption;
⬛️ more chance for new variants to emerge that are more virulent, more deadly and/or resistant to current vaccines.
This is not an accident.
This is not something they don't know about.
These governments understand all this.
They have made this deliberate policy choice anyway.
And more of us will die because of it.
This is not something they don't know about.
These governments understand all this.
They have made this deliberate policy choice anyway.
And more of us will die because of it.
Over 200 million people have been fully vaccinated worldwide. That sounds like a lot, right?
But global population is about 8 billion, so it's only about 2.5% of us.
Experts assume we need at least 70% for herd immunity.
ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-…
But global population is about 8 billion, so it's only about 2.5% of us.
Experts assume we need at least 70% for herd immunity.
ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-…
And the current rollout is hugely uneven.
Rich governments are hogging scarce supplies.
83% of shots that have gone into arms worldwide have been administered in high- & upper-middle-income countries.
Only 0.2% in low-income countries.
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
Rich governments are hogging scarce supplies.
83% of shots that have gone into arms worldwide have been administered in high- & upper-middle-income countries.
Only 0.2% in low-income countries.
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
Rich governments try to justify their actions by saying they've donated or pledged money to the COVAX facility.
But while COVAX may help get 20% of some poorer countries' doses, that's not nearly herd immunity level - again, that's 70% at least.
But while COVAX may help get 20% of some poorer countries' doses, that's not nearly herd immunity level - again, that's 70% at least.
Plus, more money doesn't help if there are no doses to buy because of the enforced scarcity.
Here's a longer thread on COVAX:
Here's a longer thread on COVAX:
https://twitter.com/astroehlein/status/1384392610329112580
Global vaccine rollout is going far too slowly for most of the world, but even if you're in a rich country - and even if you've been vaccinated - it's going too slowly for you, too.
When we say, "no one is safe until everyone is safe", we mean you too.
oxfam.org/en/press-relea…
When we say, "no one is safe until everyone is safe", we mean you too.
oxfam.org/en/press-relea…
So, the fact that the EU, UK, US, Australia & other governments are throttling vaccine production globally by blocking the #TRIPSwaiver - a proposal at the WTO to temporarily waive some intellectual property rules for medical products - is a scandal that affects us all.
It's galling to hear pharma cos moan that a temporary waiver would "disincentivize" them from making future vaccines.
Apart from bordering on extortion, it's ahistorical.
What incentivized them last time was our taxes. Our governments poured billions into developing vaccines.
Apart from bordering on extortion, it's ahistorical.
What incentivized them last time was our taxes. Our governments poured billions into developing vaccines.
They could be thus incentivized again in future, obviously.
Experts worldwide warned that, with limited supplies, vaccines would not become a global public good if rich countries were able to monopolize or dominate available doses only for themselves.
Sadly, that is exactly what happened.
And it harms us all.
hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
Sadly, that is exactly what happened.
And it harms us all.
hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
But we can change this deadly policy.
Our governments have departed from our values & are endangering our lives.
We know this is outrageous, and we have to get them to prioritize human life over pharma profits.
Our governments have departed from our values & are endangering our lives.
We know this is outrageous, and we have to get them to prioritize human life over pharma profits.
Indeed, given this is a once-in-a-century global pandemic, we have to ask:
Why aren’t governments doing everything they can to end it?
Why not fight the virus with everything we’ve got?
Why hold anything back?
Why prolong the pandemic?
📢 Demand the #TRIPSwaiver now.
Why aren’t governments doing everything they can to end it?
Why not fight the virus with everything we’ve got?
Why hold anything back?
Why prolong the pandemic?
📢 Demand the #TRIPSwaiver now.
#TRIPSwaiver
#PeoplesVaccine
✅ It's the moral thing to do.
✅ It's the human-rights-based approach.
Honestly, that's more than enough for me, but if you still need convincing…
✅ It's in your own self-interest, wherever you are.
More reasons: naturemicrobiologycommunity.nature.com/posts/10-reaso…
#PeoplesVaccine
✅ It's the moral thing to do.
✅ It's the human-rights-based approach.
Honestly, that's more than enough for me, but if you still need convincing…
✅ It's in your own self-interest, wherever you are.
More reasons: naturemicrobiologycommunity.nature.com/posts/10-reaso…
Another disingenuous argument PR spinners for phama cos make is that #TRIPSwaiver would not instantly result in new production in new places.
Er, no duh.
All that means is the sooner we start, the better, as many have been saying for ages.
Thread:
Er, no duh.
All that means is the sooner we start, the better, as many have been saying for ages.
Thread:
https://twitter.com/astroehlein/status/1382301491789246464
Some folks have looked at this map and asked, “Brazil, too?”
Yes, Brazil, too: hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
Others have looked at it and asked, “Why is Canada on the fence?”
Another good question: hrw.org/news/2021/02/0…
Yes, Brazil, too: hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
Others have looked at it and asked, “Why is Canada on the fence?”
Another good question: hrw.org/news/2021/02/0…
Everyone in the pink & blue countries, please, contact your representatives & your government, and ask them to end this madness. And tell your media, too.
We need to fight the virus with every tool we can. Tell your governments to stop blocking the #TripsWaiver at the WTO.
We need to fight the virus with every tool we can. Tell your governments to stop blocking the #TripsWaiver at the WTO.
Feel free to translate this thread into your language - it seems to have been popular in English, so it will likely be interesting for your followers, too.
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