Urgency Of Calls On US To Share Vaccine Stock Ramps Up
As the world waits for details of the U.S. plan to share vaccine supplies with other countries, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that distribution will start soon. AP reports on a debate in the administration about sharing with the neediest nations or with U.S. allies.
The Washington Post:
Blinken Says U.S. Will Soon Distribute Coronavirus Vaccines In First Visit To Latin America, But Details Are Slim
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that the United States would soon distribute millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines around the world, including in Latin America, which is struggling to obtain them for its citizens amid rising hospitalization rates. But the question on the minds of many — which countries will receive doses first and how quickly will they be delivered — remained unanswered as Blinken began his first official visit to the region. (Hudson, 6/1)
Stat:
Global Agencies Call For $50 Billion Investment To Combat Covid-19
In a plea to halt the Covid-19 pandemic, four global agencies are calling for investments of up to $50 billion – mostly from wealthy nations — to boost manufacturing capacity and supplies and ease trade rules to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and other medical products. The “call to action” comes as the pandemic reaches a “perilous point,” but such an investment could reduce infections and the loss of lives, while accelerating an economic recovery, according to a statement from the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund. (Silverman, 6/1)
AP:
Who Benefits? US Debates Fairest Way To Share Spare Vaccine
In April, the Biden administration announced plans to share millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses with the world by the end of June. Five weeks later, nations around the globe are still waiting — with growing impatience — to learn where the vaccines will go and how they will be distributed. To President Joe Biden, the doses represent a modern-day “arsenal of democracy,” serving as the ultimate carrot for America’s partners abroad, but also as a necessary tool for global health, capable of saving millions of lives and returning a semblance of normalcy to friends and foes alike. The central question for Biden: What share of doses should be provided to those who need it most, and how many should be reserved for U.S. partners? (Miller, 5/31)
Axios:
World Anxiously Waits To See Where Biden Will Send America's Vaccines
The U.S. is about to pivot from hoarding vaccines to sharing them globally, and countries around the world are trying to secure their places in line. President Biden has promised to donate 80 million doses by the end of June. With domestic demand waning, he’ll soon be able to offer far more. But the White House hasn't said how it will distribute the initial 80 million, or when it will feel comfortable truly opening its supply to the world. (Lawler, 6/1)
In news about intellectual property protections —
CNBC:
Big Pharma Launches Campaign Against Biden Over Covid Vaccine Patent Waiver
The lobbying group that represents several top pharmaceutical companies last month quietly launched a campaign against President Joe Biden and his decision to back waiving intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, known as PhRMA, is a political advocacy group that represents more than 30 pharmaceutical firms, including Covid vaccine makers Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Late last month it started running a digital ad campaign on Facebook and Google targeting Biden’s decision, a CNBC search of the companies’ ad archives revealed. (Schwartz, 6/1)
