The Role of Intellectual Property in Preparing for Future Pandemics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2022

Abstract

For much of 2021, many low -income countries were unable to implement Covid vaccination programmes as comprehensively as most high and middle-income countries. Even though vaccine supply increased exponentially last year, COVAX, the initiative focused on delivering equitable vaccine access, only really ramped up its deliveries towards the end of 2021 due to delays to country readiness and absorption issues. Removing or weakening IPRs for pandemic health technologies including vaccines would be highly counterproductive. It would undermine the incentive to invest in new technologies and treatments. Equally as important, it would disrupt the international manufacturing collaborations and partnerships that have proved so indispensable to the current pandemic. This briefing paper explores how.

Publication Title

Geneva Network

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