Vaccines

The world urgently needs 20 billion doses of a vaccine that will protect global citizens against the coronavirus. States are throwing huge sums of public money at the race to beat Covid-19, but who will get there first? Will Big Pharma focus on private profit? Will vaccine nationalism prevail, or will the patent be shared to create a low-cost global supply?

May 2020

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The world urgently needs 20 billion doses of a vaccine that will protect global citizens against the coronavirus. States are throwing huge sums of public money at the race to beat Covid-19, but who will get there first? Will Big Pharma focus on private profit? Will vaccine nationalism prevail, or will the patent be shared to create a low-cost global supply?

Big Pharma, one of the most lucrative industries in the world, does not usually give priority to vaccine development, as it is financially risky and other drugs are more profitable.

The public spends billions to help with the research and development of commercial drugs, but usually only a fraction of this amount goes to fund vaccine development.

The Coronavirus has turned the tables: The stepchild of the drug industry now gets full attention – and huge public funding.

The reporters of Investigate Europe followed the public money spent on the hunt for a Covid-19 vaccine and found that most of these grants and loans are given without the necessary conditions to ensure global supply and a fair access. If too little is done to prevent “vaccine nationalism,” in the end the public will pay the price. 

Read our reports below and scroll down to read articles published in media partner outlets across Europe.

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Publications

A vaccine for all may be an (expensive) chimera
A vaccine for all may be an (expensive) chimera

Público, Portugal

Vaccines, selfishness and war between states
Vaccines, selfishness and war between states

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

The hunt for the first shot
The hunt for the first shot

Falter, Austria

Who gets the vaccine – and at what price?
Who gets the vaccine – and at what price?

Republik, Switzerland

Production and distribution of a vaccine become a stress test for policy makers
Production and distribution of a vaccine become a stress test for policy makers

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

A coronavirus vaccine will be available for everyone? Don’t be under any illusions.
A coronavirus vaccine will be available for everyone? Don’t be under any illusions.

Newsweek Poland, Poland

At this moment, European states are unable to guarantee equitable access to a future vaccine against Covid
At this moment, European states are unable to guarantee equitable access to a future vaccine against Covid

Basta!, France, Basta!

A powerless witness to death — even though a vaccine existed
A powerless witness to death — even though a vaccine existed

NRK, Norway

Norway drops global vaccine purchases
Norway drops global vaccine purchases

NRK, Norway

Europe blocks measures that could provide many more Covid-19 vaccines
Europe blocks measures that could provide many more Covid-19 vaccines

Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway

Europe blocks move that would massively expand Covid vaccine production capacity. Why?
Europe blocks move that would massively expand Covid vaccine production capacity. Why?

Baricada Bulgaria, Bulgaria

Why is the EU blocking a proposal that will significantly expand vaccine production?
Why is the EU blocking a proposal that will significantly expand vaccine production?

Baricada Bulgaria, Bulgaria

How Europe manoeuvred vaccine patents: support the US or Big Pharma?
How Europe manoeuvred vaccine patents: support the US or Big Pharma?

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland

Vaccine Patent Waiver: USA and Spain on one side, Portugal and Germany on the other
Vaccine Patent Waiver: USA and Spain on one side, Portugal and Germany on the other

Público, Portugal

Covid-19 vaccines: hypocrisy with (European) patent
Covid-19 vaccines: hypocrisy with (European) patent

EfSyn, Greece

EU negotiators defend high Covid vaccines prices paid to pharma
EU negotiators defend high Covid vaccines prices paid to pharma

EUobserver, Belgium

Dyrt å få vaksiner først
Dyrt å få vaksiner først

Klassekampen, Norway

Colpo grosso Big Pharma: intascati 31 mld in più
Colpo grosso Big Pharma: intascati 31 mld in più

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

A UE cedeu às exigências das farmacêuticas em negociações secretas sobre o preço das vacinas
A UE cedeu às exigências das farmacêuticas em negociações secretas sobre o preço das vacinas

Público, Portugal

„Diese Preise zahlen wir nicht“: Einblicke in die streng geheimen Verhandlungen zwischen EU und „Big Pharma“
„Diese Preise zahlen wir nicht“: Einblicke in die streng geheimen Verhandlungen zwischen EU und „Big Pharma“

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

EU’s ‘secret’ vaccine negotiators: Who’s dealing with Big Pharma?
EU’s ‘secret’ vaccine negotiators: Who’s dealing with Big Pharma?

EUobserver, Belgium

Anonym im Namen der EU
Anonym im Namen der EU

taz, Germany

Ue, i conflitti d’interessi dei negoziatori dei vaccini
Ue, i conflitti d’interessi dei negoziatori dei vaccini

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

Vacinas covid: quem são os negociadores secretos da UE com a indústria farmacêutica?
Vacinas covid: quem são os negociadores secretos da UE com a indústria farmacêutica?

Público, Portugal

Οι Μυστικοί Εφτά και ο αρχιλομπίστας της Big Pharma
Οι Μυστικοί Εφτά και ο αρχιλομπίστας της Big Pharma

EfSyn, Greece