Thread by @GRIPInequality

Welcome to our live-tweeting from the #GRIPVaccineSeminar! GRIP director @BjornEBertelsen hosts the seminar along with @UiB's Esperanza Dias Perez. We look forward to discuss #VaccineInequality & it's consequences here today!

@GKangInd starts the #GRIPVaccineSeminar by giving an overview of the status in India; she describes how India in December was positive that they could combat the pandemic with the vaccine. Now 1.5 million doses of vaccines are given each day - which is still not nearly enough!

@mfallah1969 describes how on the surface West Africa seems to be doing well - however, most of the West African countries are not testing enough. Merely testing at airports, which does not give an accurate overview and leads to a false sense of security #GRIPVaccineSeminar

@mfallah1969 voices a real concern for the situation in Africa to reach the levels we have seen in India now - Africa is not prepared #GRIPVaccineSeminar

@jarottingen describes how even inside of Norway access to the vaccine is highly debated; who should get the vaccine first and why?

#GRIPVaccineSeminar @jarottingen describes the complex situation surrounding the vaccine distribution. Who should pay, what should they pay? The demand of the vaccine is much larger than the actual supply!

#GRIPVaccineSeminar Donations and increase of production is a way to fix the short-term inequalities in vaccine coverage says @jarottingen

Henriette Aasen from @UiB is explaining the legal basis of the intellectual property rights that are currently affecting the vaccine distribution #GRIPVaccineSeminar

Intellectual property rights are a key concern in vaccine production, and producers should receive reasonable compensation - but intellectual property rights are not human rights #GRIPVaccineSeminar

Erlend Grønningen from @msfnorge argues that even distribution of the vaccine is needed. The growth of Covid19 is also bringing side-effects such as an increase in other diseases.

At the #GRIPVaccineSeminar we hear Erlend Grønningen from @msfnorge discussing how charity is not a substitute for a good system. This pandemic has taught us that vaccines are in fact part of global security!

We need larger capacity all over the world argues @jarottingen - the quick fix is donations. We need to root our discussion in reality and find pragmatic solutions #GRIPVaccineSeminar

@mfallah1969 points out that hoarding of the vaccine is not helping the situation - we need to cooperate internationally to succeed in beating the pandemic #GRIPVaccineSeminar

@mfallah1969 at #GRIPVaccineSeminar: most of the research for this vaccine was sponsored by tax income - is it right that big pharma is making billions of the vaccine?

"This is not only about morality and ethics, but it is also about global security" @mfallah1969

"Are you giving the vaccine at the right time and to the places that need them the most?" @GKangInd argues that if we don't think about this we end up with a vaccine only given to the elite. #GRIPVaccineSeminar

Why could Norway not support the proposal to let countries produce their own vaccines? Henriette Asen wonders, and argues that we need to discuss these issues #GRIPVaccineSeminar

Erlend Grønningen argues that the global, collaborative effort of the vaccine production represents a new model of innovation. We however don't have a proper legal framework to ensure that the distribution remains fair #GRIPVaccineSeminar

#GRIPVaccineSeminar What can organizations and individuals working in global health do to increase pressure to facilitate IP waivers and technological transfer to LMICs to boost COVID19 vaccine manufacturing?

@mfallah1969 argues that media pressure is necessary, while @GKangInd describes how the Indian vaccine-production shows that this is not a question of IP alone.

@jarottingen points out that there is no patent protection for the least developed countries. What we need first is a prioritization of tech transfer and sharing of knowledge #GRIPVaccineSeminar

Erlend Grønningen (@msfnorge) points out that we need political pressure, especially in the global north, and that we must keep asking for equal distribution of the vaccine.

Thank you all for joining this brief seminar on #VaccineInequality! Special thanks to our panellists @jarottingen, @GKangInd, @mfallah1969, Erlend Grønningen and Henriette Aasen! And thank you @GlobalBergen for hosting the #GRIPVaccineSeminar!

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