Ahead of a key World Trade Organization meeting at which ministers are being urged to finally back a temporary intellectual protection waiver proposal on coronavirus-related technologies, a new report highlights ongoing vaccine inequity and a situation in which global health has been “left hostage” to Big Pharma.

A woman tapes protest signs to the Pfizer logo during a demonstration at the company’s headquarters on July 14, 2021 in Manhattan. Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty

Released Monday and entitled Losing Time: End this pandemic and secure the future, the publication comes from the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, a body established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The idea that a poor health worker is unprotected while the healthy and wealthy receive booster doses should present a deep moral quandary. To this there is only one solution—vaccine equity.”

The report addresses progress on a suite of reforms the panel recommended six months ago regarding the current pandemic as well as future ones.

“There is progress, but it is not fast or cohesive enough to bring this pandemic to an end […]

Read the Full Article