THERE are just too many phrases floating around in the “vaccine war” – intellectual property (IP) rights, vaccine diplomacy, vaccine inequities, profits, unlocking vaccine production, corporate power blocking fair access – the list goes on.
But one thing is certain – the monopoly on Covid-19 vaccine production by big pharmaceuticals and bargaining power by rich countries have resulted in pitting global citizens and countries against each other.
And in Malaysia, it has resulted in a low vaccine roll-out, where those who have registered are still waiting for an appointment to roll up their sleeves at government-approved medical facilities.
According to news reports, rich countries that represent just 16% of the world’s population, have secured 60% of the leading vaccines.
This brought about a sharp retort from World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, for these nations have enough to vaccinate their entire populations almost three times over.
In Malaysia, where 1.9 million people have received at least one dose of the available vaccines, it translates to about 5.9% of the population.
It’s time for us to understand that the vaccine war between WHO, Covax (which aims at collaboration between countries to procure and distribute vaccines equitably), big pharmaceutical companies, and even US President Joe Biden, is very real and affects us on a personal level.
While Biden has shifted his stance to throw his support behind a temporary IP rights waiver, big pharmaceuticals are going for his jugular.
And, the Pfizer boss has pooh-poohed WHO’s Covid-19 Technology Access Pool, which was launched last year to facilitate the sharing of technological know-how and IP rights with other companies and governments.
The irony of it is that while the pharmaceutical industry has managed to write its monopoly rules into the Trade Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPS), forcing compliance from every country, the funds for vaccine development come from the public.
But, the bargaining power of countries with deep pockets and the industry’s penchant for selling to the highest bidder has resulted in a low-risk British citizen getting the first roll-out of vaccines compared to a senior citizen with high comorbidities in Kuala Lumpur.
This is not just criminal, but a crime against humanity.
We are experiencing moral bankruptcy as profits continue to determine where vaccines are shipped despite raging infections, death and deprivation in poorer countries.
Malaysia is seeing thousands of cases every day but it’s as if we are less than human.
And, according to Khairy Jamaluddin, our third phase of vaccination may be delayed.
He says this isn’t due to government inefficiency, but “pharmaceutical companies that are prioritising rich countries”.
Ironically, however, we haven’t heard a whimper from Malaysia about supporting an exemption from the World Trade Organisation International Property rules protecting vaccine production.
This waiver would allow governments, including Malaysia, to authorise the production of patented vaccines without the consent of pharmaceutical companies holding the patent.
We can also bypass the monopoly of companies holding IP rights and produce generic vaccines and other technologies that can fight Covid-19.
On the ground, this would mean our vaccination schedules can run smoothly.
This is where I would like to see some leadership from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He cannot treat this issue the way he approached the announcement of the third lockdown – via a PDF.
More than 120 countries are supporting the waiver, with Indonesia, Spain and even China being the latest.
We need to hear Malaysia’s voice now. – The Vibes, May 15, 2021
Charles Santiago is Klang MP
