Rich countries donating doses is nice, sure. It could, for example, get jabs to frontline health workers in countries where they’ve not had them. (just think about that for a moment, btw: we have a vaccine, but even some healthcare folks can’t get it… in a GLOBAL pandemic…)
But a bit of charity doesn’t solve the underlying problem: global vaccine shortage.
The problem is insufficient vaccine production…
…in large part because the EU (& UK) are LITERALLY BLOCKING wider vaccine production globally.
During a GLOBAL pandemic.
Deadly madness.
By insisting on “business-as-usual” rules on intellectual property at the World Trade Organization, the EU & UK have been blocking a temporary patent waiver (#TRIPSWaiver) for vaccines & other medical tools to address Covid.
As if a global pandemic calls for “business as usual”
Now, you & I, as normal people who are exhausted by this global pandemic and want it to end as soon as possible, would say, “They what? They think this is a time for ‘business as usual’?”
But yes, even after 5 million dead, the EU & UK think the normal rules should apply.
So, we are now heading for - or maybe we are now already at - a situation like this: an endless pandemic scenario.
Great for the pharma monopoly profits the EU & UK governments are trying to boost, but not so great for the rest of us…
EU & UK leaders are not stupid. They know blocking wider vaccine production will prolong the pandemic, so:
☠️ more death;
☠️ more economic chaos;
☠️ more chance for new variants to arise that are:
☠️ ☠️ more deadly,
☠️ ☠️ more easily spread,
☠️ ☠️ vaccine resistant.
They just have other priorities.
That is, pharma monopoly profits.
Not our lives.
Agreeing the #TRIPSwaiver would not change everything overnight. There are other steps needed, and it will then take months to bring new production online.
But the world’s wasted more than a year since the waiver was first proposed. How much we could’ve achieved in that time…
Agreeing the #TRIPSwaiver would only be the start to ending the pandemic.
It’s terrible that the EU & UK won’t even let us begin.
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The EU & UK insist on business-as-usual rules on intellectual property at the World Trade Organization, blocking a temporary patent waiver (#TRIPSWaiver) for vaccines & other medical tools to fight Covid.
Business as usual?
In a global pandemic that’s killing millions of us?
EU & UK leaders know full well that blocking wider vaccine production will prolong the pandemic, meaning:
☠️ more death;
☠️ more suffering;
☠️ more chances for new variants to arise.
But those leaders simply have other priorities: pharma monopoly profits, not human lives
We are now heading for - or maybe we are now already at - a situation like this: an endless pandemic due to artificially maintained vaccine shortage.
Great for the pharma monopoly profits the EU & UK governments are trying to boost, but not so great for the rest of us…
Someone suggested that the numbers on this thread - big engagement on first tweet, less big on other tweets in the thread - shows how people would rather knock powerless fools than the more powerful actors behind a problem. I don’t think it’s quite that simple…
The UK - which, like the EU is BLOCKING wider production of vaccines globally - is preparing at home for a 4th booster… and a 5th…
BILLIONS around the world have not even had 1 shot yet, in large part due to the vaccine shortage the UK & EU maintain. theguardian.com/world/2021/dec…
For an overview of how the EU (& UK) are DELIBERATELY BLOCKING wider production of vaccines globally during a global pandemic, do please read this piece from Mary Robinson yesterday.
It’s a fantastic place to start understanding the biggest scandal of our time:
Those who think the global vaccine shortage doesn’t affect them as long as they’re among the “haves”, rather than the “have nots”, really aren’t paying attention to the news lately…
If being asked to wear a mask in some places during a global pandemic is really the greatest "oppression" you've ever faced in your life, you seriously do not know how charmed a life you've had.
In fact, maybe you should consider wearing an extra thick mask so people don’t hear how ignorant you are. It would save you some embarrassment. #FreeAdvice
What we should all do in the global pandemic:
1️⃣ Wear a mask where asked to & in enclosed spaces.
2️⃣ Get vaccinated if you can.
3️⃣ Ask why BILLIONS cannot get vaccinated.
4️⃣ Demand that your government support the #TRIPSwaiver to expand vaccine production globally.
For those who think that rich countries sharing vaccine doses with poor ones will solve the problem: the math is not on your side. This has been clear for many months, at least…