Survivors of COVID-19 from 37 countries are among almost 1,000 people who have signed an open letter (which you can read at the bottom of this article) to pharmaceutical industry leaders calling for a ‘people’s vaccine’ and treatments that are available to all – free from patents. The letter comes on the eve of a high-level side event about the pandemic at the UN General Assembly in New York on 30 September.
The signatories include 242 COVID-19 survivors from South Africa to Finland and New Zealand to Brazil. They also include 190 people in 46 countries who have lost relatives to the virus, and 572 signatories with underlying health conditions that mean they are more likely to develop severe forms of COVID-19 and have a greater risk of dying from it.
“Some of us have lost loved ones to this killer disease. Some of us have come close to death ourselves. Some of us are continuing to live in fear that contracting this disease would be fatal for us. We see no justification why your profit or monopolies should mean anyone else should go through this,” the letter says.
“A vaccine should be a global public good and free of charge for all.”
It describes pharmaceutical corporations as “carrying on with business as usual – defending monopolies while refusing to share research and know-how” and calls on industry leaders to “ensure COVID-19 vaccines and treatments reach everyone who needs them by preventing monopolies, ramping up production and sharing knowledge.”
Pharmaceutical monopolies will restrict the production of effective vaccines and treatments to a small number of manufacturers, preventing the mass production that is needed to meet global demand. The letter demands that corporations immediately license vaccine technology and intellectual property rights to the WHO COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP).
One of the signatories, Dilafruz Gafurova, 43, from Tajikistan, said: “I and my husband got sick with this disease. We could only rely on ourselves as hospitals were full … It was really difficult to get the right medicines. I am a mother of four children … I was afraid to leave them alone in this world if something bad could happen with me … The reason I am signing this letter is to help others to get [a] vaccine. Not all the people around the world can get this vaccine, as they simply cannot afford it. They hardly [have enough to meet] their daily needs.”
The letter was organized by the People’s Vaccine Alliance, a global coalition of organizations and activists united under a common aim of campaigning for a people’s vaccine for COVID-19 that is based on shared knowledge and is freely available to everyone everywhere.
On 30 September at the UN General Assembly, Bill Gates and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be among other high-profile figures discussing vaccine access. So far rich nations have failed to exert pressure on pharmaceutical corporations to share technology to maximize the supply of successful vaccines and treatments worldwide.
“Pharmaceutical companies need to pay attention to the demands of people from around the world who have experienced the fear and devastation of COVID-19,” says Heidi Chow from Global Justice Now, a member of the People’s Vaccine Alliance. “The industry cannot block its ears to these voices but should respond immediately by ending their monopolies and commit to sharing manufacturing know-how. These actions are crucial to expand vaccine supplies so that all countries can affordably access effective vaccines.”
“With AIDS we saw that when treatments were found, the wealthier people in wealthier countries got back to health, while millions of people in developing countries were left to die,” says Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
“We must not repeat the same mistake when a vaccine for COVID-19 is found. The right to health is a human right—it should not depend on the money in your pocket or the color of your skin to be vaccinated against this deadly virus. A vaccine should be a global public good and free of charge for all,” she adds.
The Alliance is also calling on governments to make public funding for research and development of COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines and treatments conditional on pharmaceutical companies sharing their knowledge and technology free from patents. When an effective vaccine is available, the Alliance demands that doses are fairly distributed with priority given to health workers and other at-risk groups in all countries.
The open letter has been signed by 941 people. They include 242 COVID-19 survivors from the following 37 countries: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uganda, UK, USA and Zambia. The letter has been sent to the pharmaceutical companies behind the 11 vaccine candidates that are currently in Phase 3 trials.
People’s Vaccine Alliance is a coalition of organisations and activists united under a common aim of campaigning for a ‘people’s vaccine’ for COVID-19 that is based on shared knowledge and is freely available to everyone everywhere.
Earlier this month, analysis by Oxfam revealed that a small group of wealthy nations representing just 13 percent of the world’s population have already bought up more than half (51 percent) of the future doses of leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Dear pharmaceutical industry leaders,
As individuals from around the world who have survived COVID-19, bereaved relatives and people at increased risk from this virus, we are writing to you to enlist your support for a People’s Vaccine. In this unparalleled global pandemic, we can only ensure COVID-19 vaccines and treatments reach everyone who needs them by preventing monopolies, ramping up production and sharing knowledge. Only this will make them a global common good. As leaders of the industry that is developing and preparing to manufacture vaccines, your cooperation in this life-saving endeavour is crucial.
Some of us have lost loved ones to this killer disease. Some of us have come close to death ourselves. Some of us are continuing to live in fear that contracting this disease would be fatal for us. We see no justification why your profit or monopolies should mean anyone else should go through this. Many of us do not live in wealthy countries that have secured preferential access to vaccine candidates – we know we would likely be at the back of any queue.
We have seen this virus spread across the world at a terrifying speed. Our best chance of all staying safe is to ensure everyone who needs a COVID-19 vaccine gets one. This will only be possible if corporations like yours share knowledge so that a vaccine can be produced in vast quantities by as many manufacturers as possible. No single corporation will be able to make enough vaccine quickly enough to ensure it is available for all who need it. We need a People’s Vaccine – not a profit vaccine.
Instead, pharmaceutical corporations, such as yours, are carrying on with business as usual – defending monopolies while refusing to share research and know-how. These barriers restrict production and drive up prices, leaving us all in danger. As long as solutions are kept under lock and key, there won’t be enough to go around.
Taxpayers will not forget the billions of dollars that governments have invested in your companies to trial and roll out the medicines and vaccines that can save lives and end lockdowns. This public money should lead to vaccines that are available for all – not for creating monopolies or maximising profits.
Prior to the pandemic, many of us already suffered ill health and saw friends die as the profits of pharmaceutical corporations have meant vital medicines for illnesses like HIV or cancer are priced far out of reach. This unprecedented global emergency offers us a unique opportunity to explore other ways of funding, pricing and sharing medical research to improve patient access.
One way you can act is to immediately license vaccine technology and intellectual property rights to the WHO COVID-19 Technology Access Pool, which acts as an one-stop shop for companies to obtain licenses to produce the vaccines without having to negotiate separate deals with multiple patent or technology holders. The Pool can license production to companies, including in developing countries, that are able to manufacture the vaccine.
In the same way you would do all you can to ensure your mother, brother or daughter gets access to an effective COVID-19 vaccine or treatment, we ask that you take all possible actions to ensure no-one need live in fear of this terrible disease.
We look forward to hearing your response.
