The vast majority of people haven't even had one shot yet, and at current jab rates, most won't for years…
And the more booster shots rich countries need, the more years it's likely to be…
All because rich governments impose global vaccine scarcity.
abcnews.go.com/Health/booster…
And the more booster shots rich countries need, the more years it's likely to be…
All because rich governments impose global vaccine scarcity.
abcnews.go.com/Health/booster…
The need for 3rd-shot boosters is one reason why calls for rich governments to donate spare doses will achieve limited results.
Yes, such donations would be good, but govts will likely want to avoid being attacked for not prioritising those at home.
wired.co.uk/article/covid-…
Yes, such donations would be good, but govts will likely want to avoid being attacked for not prioritising those at home.
wired.co.uk/article/covid-…
The other reason why donating spare doses would achieve limited results is the scale of global need.
A few governments have talked about donating tens of millions of doses; one or two have said maybe hundreds of millions.
💥 But we need 11 billion doses at least.
A few governments have talked about donating tens of millions of doses; one or two have said maybe hundreds of millions.
💥 But we need 11 billion doses at least.
And 11 billion doses is the most conservative estimate.
Some close to industry have said 14 billion: businessinsider.com/bill-gates-14-…
Some say 20 billion: investigate-europe.eu/en/2020/vaccin…
The need for 3rd-shot boosters only increases demand.
Some close to industry have said 14 billion: businessinsider.com/bill-gates-14-…
Some say 20 billion: investigate-europe.eu/en/2020/vaccin…
The need for 3rd-shot boosters only increases demand.
But while the need for 3rd-shot boosters increases demand, supply looks set to be mostly fixed, because Covid vaccine production is under monopoly control by a few pharmaceutical companies.
And the EU, UK & a few others protect this production monopoly.
And the EU, UK & a few others protect this production monopoly.
You don't need me to tell you what happens when the demand for something goes up and the supply remains constant.
Everyone knows: the price of that thing goes up.
Which is great for the pharma companies, of course.
But awful for the rest of us.
Everyone knows: the price of that thing goes up.
Which is great for the pharma companies, of course.
But awful for the rest of us.
And with 3rd-shot boosters on the way, we're back to "vaccine nationalism", as governments scramble for scarce doses.
Experts have warned about this madness since the beginning: foreignaffairs.com/articles/unite…
And they've kept warning: hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
Experts have warned about this madness since the beginning: foreignaffairs.com/articles/unite…
And they've kept warning: hrw.org/news/2021/03/0…
It's madness because many of the governments scrambling for scare doses are the same governments that have allowed global vaccine scarcity in the first place.
We need more vaccine production. Leaving it under monopoly control will never produce enough for everyone fast enough.
We need more vaccine production. Leaving it under monopoly control will never produce enough for everyone fast enough.
From the start, the EU, UK & others have been blocking wider Covid vaccine production globally by obstructing the #TRIPSwaiver, a proposal to temporarily waive some intellectual property (IP) rules on vaccines & other health products.
This is a key reason for vaccine scarcity.
This is a key reason for vaccine scarcity.
By letting the monopolies determine production levels, leaders in the EU, UK & other countries have handed supply decisions to those with a direct financial interest in limiting supply.
As millions are dying...
As millions are dying...
Also, insufficient supply of vaccines and slow global vaccination rates makes the emergence of new variants more likely.
It is only a matter of time before we see a variant that's resistant to current vaccines.
☠️ And then we're back at the beginning.
oxfam.org/en/press-relea…
It is only a matter of time before we see a variant that's resistant to current vaccines.
☠️ And then we're back at the beginning.
oxfam.org/en/press-relea…
The pharma monopolies are planning for such new variants emerging and will come up with new formulas to address them.
They are betting on it, in fact: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
They are betting on it, in fact: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
And that's a pretty safe bet for the pharma companies - as long as they are allowed to control production and keep it limited.
In short, this is their EU- and UK-approved business model: non-stop profits for pharma, but an endless merry-go-round of death for humanity.
In short, this is their EU- and UK-approved business model: non-stop profits for pharma, but an endless merry-go-round of death for humanity.
I wish people who rage at sensible health measures would turn their attention to this instead.
😷 Your government telling you to wear a mask in some places during a pandemic is perfectly acceptable.
🤬 Your government deliberately prolonging the pandemic is the true outrage.
😷 Your government telling you to wear a mask in some places during a pandemic is perfectly acceptable.
🤬 Your government deliberately prolonging the pandemic is the true outrage.
And yes: deliberately.
They are not stupid.
They know that prioritising pharma companies' profits over humanity's needs will prolong the pandemic.
They have adopted this deadly policy with deliberation, in full knowledge of its appalling consequences.
They are not stupid.
They know that prioritising pharma companies' profits over humanity's needs will prolong the pandemic.
They have adopted this deadly policy with deliberation, in full knowledge of its appalling consequences.
And they misinform the public and even lie outright to try to justify their deadly policy...
https://twitter.com/astroehlein/status/1400352366134796295
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