The EU, UK & a few others are deliberately prolonging the pandemic by blocking wider vaccine production globally.
This means:
⬛️ More death;
⬛️ More economic disruption;
⬛️ More chances for new variants of the virus to emerge.
This means:
⬛️ More death;
⬛️ More economic disruption;
⬛️ More chances for new variants of the virus to emerge.
Some leaders in Europe want people to see vaccination rollout in their own countries now moving at a reasonable pace and believe the falsehood that the pandemic is nearly over.
It is not.
Not even close.
It is not.
Not even close.
The pandemic will rage for years, because global vaccine rollout has been too slow.
Only 5% of people have been fully vaccinated in 5 months.
Vaccine rollout has been slow in part because of the artificial scarcity the EU & others create by blocking wider vaccine production.
Only 5% of people have been fully vaccinated in 5 months.
Vaccine rollout has been slow in part because of the artificial scarcity the EU & others create by blocking wider vaccine production.
EU leaders are hoping the public will be ignorant & believe that once you're vaccinated, you're safe.
But the longer the pandemic rages, the more chance there is for new variants to emerge that are resistant to the vaccines a lucky few have already had.
oxfam.org/en/press-relea…
But the longer the pandemic rages, the more chance there is for new variants to emerge that are resistant to the vaccines a lucky few have already had.
oxfam.org/en/press-relea…
Throttled production and vaccine scarcity mean endless profits for the pharma companies, but an endless pandemic for the world.
The EU & the drug companies know the rollout is going too slowly to meet global need.
As they talk about "3rd shot" boosters - which will deepen the fight over short supplies - they also mention needing modified & new vaccines to combat new variants.
cnbc.com/2021/04/15/pfi…
As they talk about "3rd shot" boosters - which will deepen the fight over short supplies - they also mention needing modified & new vaccines to combat new variants.
cnbc.com/2021/04/15/pfi…
This is the deliberate EU policy: long pandemic.
EU leaders are not stupid. They know the costs in terms of more death, more suffering & more economic wreckage...
...but they choose a long pandemic anyway.
Because they only listen to big pharma.
corporateeurope.org/en/2021/05/com…
EU leaders are not stupid. They know the costs in terms of more death, more suffering & more economic wreckage...
...but they choose a long pandemic anyway.
Because they only listen to big pharma.
corporateeurope.org/en/2021/05/com…
Big pharma has given the EU a pile of talking points, which EU leaders and spokespeople obediently repeat over and over, even though these points have been debunked repeatedly for months.
First, pharma companies say - and EU leaders parrot - that there is no idle vaccine production capacity.
This is a lie.
There are at least 144 manufacturing facilities in 35 countries that could potentially be used to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines:
keionline.org/covid-19-vacci…
This is a lie.
There are at least 144 manufacturing facilities in 35 countries that could potentially be used to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines:
keionline.org/covid-19-vacci…
Second, they say it's impossible for other facilities to make the new vaccines because they are so complicated.
But think about that: If it's impossible to produce them, why are pharma companies so worried about losing profits to other manufacturers?
But think about that: If it's impossible to produce them, why are pharma companies so worried about losing profits to other manufacturers?
Third, EU leaders say that new production of vaccines would not come online instantly.
Yes, of course. It will take 3 to 4 months, experts say: apnews.com/article/drug-c…
The EU has been blocking the patent waiver for over 7 months...
Yes, of course. It will take 3 to 4 months, experts say: apnews.com/article/drug-c…
The EU has been blocking the patent waiver for over 7 months...
Fourth, some EU leaders say licensing deals would work better.
But this keeps the decision on how many doses to produce in a few hands of big pharma - which is exactly the cause of scarcity today.
Companies aim to maximise profits. For vaccines, we need to maximise production
But this keeps the decision on how many doses to produce in a few hands of big pharma - which is exactly the cause of scarcity today.
Companies aim to maximise profits. For vaccines, we need to maximise production
Fifth, EU leaders brag about donating vaccines to developing countries & say that's the way forward.
But a little charity of ten or one hundred million doses is not going to solve the problem, when that problem is the global need for over 11 BILLION doses.
But a little charity of ten or one hundred million doses is not going to solve the problem, when that problem is the global need for over 11 BILLION doses.
They point to the COVAX facility, hoping people won't be aware of the limited aims & funding shortfalls of that program.
https://twitter.com/astroehlein/status/1392070264926703617
Sixth, the pharma companies say - and the EU dutifully repeats - that quality of vaccines could not be assured in other facilities.
But to assure quality, the WHO runs a Covid-19 pre-qualification program, where producers must submit their products for assessment.
But to assure quality, the WHO runs a Covid-19 pre-qualification program, where producers must submit their products for assessment.
The pharma companies, and EU leaders, repeat all these lies & debunked arguments over and over. They are desperate to protect their profits, of course, but the vast majority of experts supports patent waivers...
The #TRIPSwaiver is supported by:
Over 100 governments: reliefweb.int/report/world/o…
Past presidents & prime ministers and Nobel laureates: project-syndicate.org/commentary/pre…
Leading international NGOs: peoplesvaccine.org
Over 100 governments: reliefweb.int/report/world/o…
Past presidents & prime ministers and Nobel laureates: project-syndicate.org/commentary/pre…
Leading international NGOs: peoplesvaccine.org
The #TRIPSwaiver is also supported by:
Medical experts: thelancet.com/journals/lance…
The head of the World Health Organization: theguardian.com/world/2021/mar…
Hundreds of European lawmakers: hrw.org/news/2021/04/2…
MEPs:
Medical experts: thelancet.com/journals/lance…
The head of the World Health Organization: theguardian.com/world/2021/mar…
Hundreds of European lawmakers: hrw.org/news/2021/04/2…
MEPs:
https://twitter.com/samiraraf/status/1388169919603302407
Anyone still not convinced should read this very well-argued in-house editorial from the leading science journal @Nature:
nature.com/articles/d4158…
nature.com/articles/d4158…
How many millions of people have been killed by COVID?
How many trillions have been lost in economic damage?
How much longer do EU leaders want this to go on just so they can keep helping their friends in a few pharma companies?
economist.com/briefing/2021/…
How many trillions have been lost in economic damage?
How much longer do EU leaders want this to go on just so they can keep helping their friends in a few pharma companies?
economist.com/briefing/2021/…
If you think the pandemic is even close to being over, you’re kidding yourself…
It’s time to start tackling this crisis with every possible weapon available, including patent waivers.
Why hold anything back?
➡️ #PeoplesVaccine
It’s time to start tackling this crisis with every possible weapon available, including patent waivers.
Why hold anything back?
➡️ #PeoplesVaccine
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