US propose to abolish rulings preventing vaccine technology duplication.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the EU is ready to discuss a US proposal, to share vaccine technology.
Our priority is to ramp up production to achieve global vaccination.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 6, 2021
At the same time we are open to discuss any other effective and pragmatic solution.
In this context we are ready to assess how the US proposal could help achieve that objective.
The U.S. wants to abolish rulings, which block technologies from being duplicated, to increase the production of Covid-19 vaccines globally.
Director General of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, believes this would be a "monumental moment" in the fight against the virus.
This is a monumental moment in the fight against #COVID19. The commitment by @POTUS Joe Biden & @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of 🇺🇸 leadership to address global health challenges. pic.twitter.com/3iBt3jfdEr
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 5, 2021
The Tánaiste has noted the government is deeply alarmed at proposals for amnesties for killings committed during the Troubles.
Leo Varadkar has said the government here would not support such a move:
White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, notes it will require agreement from other nations, to adjust the rules on intellectual property.
Here at home, the Irish pharmaceutical industry is opposing plans to waive intellectual property rights for vaccines.
Director of Communications & Advocacy, for the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, Bernard Mallee, believes waiving the patent will impact progress of other medicines.
