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
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.
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Publications
A vaccine for all may be an (expensive) chimera
Público, Portugal
Vaccines, selfishness and war between states
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
The hunt for the first shot
Falter, Austria
Who gets the vaccine – and at what price?
Republik, Switzerland
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.
Newsweek Poland, Poland
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
NRK, Norway
Norway drops global vaccine purchases
NRK, Norway
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?
Baricada Bulgaria, Bulgaria
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?
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
Vaccine Patent Waiver: USA and Spain on one side, Portugal and Germany on the other
Público, Portugal
Covid-19 vaccines: hypocrisy with (European) patent
EfSyn, Greece
EU negotiators defend high Covid vaccines prices paid to pharma
EUobserver, Belgium
Dyrt å få vaksiner først
Klassekampen, Norway
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
Público, Portugal
„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?
EUobserver, Belgium
Anonym im Namen der EU
taz, Germany
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?
Público, Portugal
Οι Μυστικοί Εφτά και ο αρχιλομπίστας της Big Pharma
EfSyn, Greece