This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/523049-vaccines-patent-europe-leyen-covid19/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Von der Leyen says EU ready to discuss Covid-19 vaccine patent waiver following US’ backing of proposal | Von der Leyen says EU ready to discuss Covid-19 vaccine patent waiver following US’ backing of proposal |
| (4 months later) | |
| The European Commission president has said Brussels is prepared to look at a proposal to scrap intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to accelerate global vaccinations against the virus. | The European Commission president has said Brussels is prepared to look at a proposal to scrap intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to accelerate global vaccinations against the virus. |
| Speaking on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would be willing to look at proposals to waive Covid-19 vaccine patents after the US gave its backing to the plan on Wednesday. | Speaking on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would be willing to look at proposals to waive Covid-19 vaccine patents after the US gave its backing to the plan on Wednesday. |
| “The EU is also ready to discuss any proposals that addresses the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner,” von der Leyen said in a speech to the European University Institute in Florence. | “The EU is also ready to discuss any proposals that addresses the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner,” von der Leyen said in a speech to the European University Institute in Florence. |
| “That’s why we are ready to discuss how the US proposal for a waiver on intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines could help achieve that objective,” she added. | “That’s why we are ready to discuss how the US proposal for a waiver on intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines could help achieve that objective,” she added. |
| While the suggestion was originally made by South Africa and India at the World Trade Organization in October and garnered support from a number of developing countries, the US only gave its backing on Wednesday. | While the suggestion was originally made by South Africa and India at the World Trade Organization in October and garnered support from a number of developing countries, the US only gave its backing on Wednesday. |
| The EU, along with the UK and Switzerland, which is home to a number of large pharmaceutical companies, had opposed such plans. | The EU, along with the UK and Switzerland, which is home to a number of large pharmaceutical companies, had opposed such plans. |
| In April, the World Health Organization said that of the 700 million vaccines administered around the world, only 0.2% of them had been in low-income countries. The proposed plan aims to increase vaccine production, notably in less-developed nations, but would see pharmaceutical companies temporarily lose patents on their lifesaving shots. | In April, the World Health Organization said that of the 700 million vaccines administered around the world, only 0.2% of them had been in low-income countries. The proposed plan aims to increase vaccine production, notably in less-developed nations, but would see pharmaceutical companies temporarily lose patents on their lifesaving shots. |
| When announcing Washington’s backing for the plan, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” | When announcing Washington’s backing for the plan, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |