Britain seeks US pledge on vaccine copyright exemptions

Britain seeks constructive engagement with United States and other members World Trade Organization (WTO) on the issue of the removal of intellectual property rights (IP) for vaccines against COVID-19, said a government spokesman following pressure from charities to support the US proposals, the APE reports.

The President of the United States Joe Biden last week expressed its support for the exemption from the intellectual property rights of COVID-19 vaccines in a clear change of US position.

Britain did not agree with the US position but stressed its efforts to improve access to vaccines against COVID-19, and the spokesman hinted that an exception to IP rights alone would not be enough to help condition.

“We are working constructively with the United States and other WTO members on the issue of exemption from [συμφωνία] TRIPS [για τα δικαιώματα πνευματικής ιδιοκτησίας]”But we must act now to expand production and distribution worldwide,” the government spokesman said in an email to Reuters.

“Any negotiations in the WTO for an exception will require unanimous support, which could take some time. “As long as we are working constructively on the IP debate, we must continue to act now, including voluntarily licensing vaccine agreements.”

Britain has promised to donate surplus vaccines to other countries when it can, but says he currently has no extra vaccines to give.

About 35 million people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Britain, about two-thirds of the adult population. Britain has ordered a total of 517 million doses of vaccine.

Hundreds of charities, academics and politicians this week signed a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to support Biden’s move, and today demonstrations are designed to coincide with AstraZeneca’s annual general assembly on Friday. the University of Oxford.

You may also like