Thread by @astroehlein

But WHY would the EU, led by Germany in this, continue to block wider vaccine production globally. During a global pandemic! That’s just crazy, isn’t it?

For 99.9% of humanity, yes.

For a few selected parts of Germany however…

theguardian.com/world/2021/dec…

It’s very nice that the city of Mainz is able to balance its books. Not sure it’s worth the countless deaths that will result from the Germany/EU policy of blocking wider vaccine production globally to protect pharma monopoly profits. But, yeah, Mainz politicians are happy. 👍

For two years, the leaders of rich governments have been pretending they can fight a global pandemic by thinking locally & nationally. This is just one, particularly egregious, example.

“our football pitches will remain in such a state that every player can play a clean pass” - Mainz mayor, Michael Ebling.

A prolonged global pandemic - the added deaths, suffering & extra time for new variants to emerge - all a small price to pay for nice football pitches…

So, when your loved one is spluttering for breath, dying horrifically in front of you while you can do nothing to help, at least you'll be comforted knowing that a football player in Mainz can make a "clean pass."

vox.com/2021/2/20/2228…

BILLIONS have not had 1 jab yet, in large part due to the vaccine shortage created by the EU/Germany blocking wider vaccine production globally by obstructing the #TRIPSwaiver at the WTO - to protect pharma monopoly profits (and yes, boost tax revenues to improve football fields)

The global vaccine shortage is great for profits (and those few lucky football pitches), but it has led to a scramble for scarce doses, and guess who wins…

About 72% of shots that have gone into arms worldwide have been administered in high- & upper-middle-income countries.

Only 1% in low-income countries.

nytimes.com/interactive/20…

Demand is only going up due to 3rd, and now 4th, shot boosters in those richer places.

Supply, meanwhile, remains under the control of a few monopoly producers.

Great for profits for them. Terrible for the billions who haven't had their 1st dose yet.

nytimes.com/2022/01/09/hea…

Also terrible for that rest of us, because prolonging the pandemic gives more time for new variants to emerge.

Some rich governments are now talking about surrendering to the virus, "living with Covid" and "managing the pandemic." In reality, this is what they mean...

The added vaccine production capacity that the #TRIPSwaiver would bring would not be instantaneous, but over 100 qualified potential producers of mRNA vaccines are out there that could start to help address it with time - if only they were allowed to.
hrw.org/news/2021/12/1…

The vast majority of scientific & expert opinion has been pushing for the #TRIPSwaiver, along with many governments.

Momentum has been building for this proposal at the WTO for 15 months.

The EU's allies are now few: the UK government, the Swiss government, and the virus.

Most of the world knows that a few improved football pitches are not worth a longer global pandemic.

I just hope Germany's new government realises this.

"The statement 'no one is safe until everyone is safe' must be more than a nice-sounding slogan: Germany has the opportunity and the obligation to help it become a reality." - @JosephEStiglitz

➡️ @OlafScholz should back the #TRIPSwaiver
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Germany should "immediately drop its opposition to India & South Africa’s proposal at the World Trade Organization to temporarily waive certain intellectual property rules, a measure that would expand access to lifesaving vaccines & other health products"
bit.ly/3GzmUYh