Ready to allocate tens of millions of euros for the production of vaccines in South Africa Germany appears, according to Health Minister Jens Spann during his visit to Johannesburg.
Berlin is willing to offer up to 50 million euros, Span said at a university event. Berlin is meant to support technology transfer, as are France and the European Union, he added.
Today Africa imports 99% of vaccines. THE Germany and other European countries have opposed discussions on lifting copyright protection, arguing that this would simply discourage private companies from investing the resources needed to develop drugs such as the new coronavirus vaccine.
At the same event, French President Emmanuel Macron called for more transparency and accountability in vaccine supplies to the poorest countries.
Macron noted that it is important to know how many installments are distributed and in which countries. He also called for transparency in vaccine prices, saying this was the best way to avoid wasting public money. Macron also called for the removal of barriers to access to vaccines, such as export restrictions.
However, differences arose over whether the protection of patents for vaccines against Covid-19 should be relaxed.
Germany believes that patents are not the reason why countries like South Africa find it difficult to obtain vaccines. The problem, for Berlin, is the supply constraints that make it difficult for companies to obtain sufficient quantities of the ingredients needed to produce the active ingredients in vaccines.
Span said technology transfer works best between willing partners. “Voluntary cooperation, making a commitment, is always more effective than coercion,” Span said. “We want to support you”
However, Macron was in favor of suspending protection for vaccine patents where there is an obstacle as long as the pandemic lasts.
Span’s visit comes as the EU promotes vaccine production and access to Africa. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced € 1 billion in support for vaccine production.
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