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
17 May 2020
Vaccini, egoismo e guerra tra gli Stati
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
18 May 2020
Die Jagd nach der ersten Spritze
Falter, Austria
20 May 2020
Wer bekommt den Impfstoff – und zu welchem Preis?
Republik, Switzerland
21 May 2020
Globaler Wettkampf um ein Mittel gegen Covid-19: Die streng geheimen Fördermittel für den Coronavirus-Impfstoff
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
21 May 2020
Szczepionka na koronawirusa będzie dostępna dla Polaków? Może być z tym kłopot…
Newsweek Poland, Poland
28 May 2020
Les Etats européens sont pour l’instant incapables de garantir un accès équitable à un futur vaccin contre le Covid
Basta!, France, Basta!
22 July 2020
Ble maktesløst vitne til død – selv om vaksinen fantes
NRK, Norway
28 August 2020
Norge dropper globalt vaksinekjøp
NRK, Norway
28 August 2020
Europa stanser grep som kan skaffe mye mer covid-19-vaksine
Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway
10 March 2021
Europa blochează decizia care ar extinde masiv capacitatea de producție a vaccinului anti-covid. De ce?
Baricada Bulgaria, Bulgaria
19 March 2021
Защо ЕС блокира предложение, което ще разшири значително производството на ваксини?
Baricada Bulgaria, Bulgaria
24 March 2021
Jak Europa lawirowała w sprawie patentów na szczepionki: wspierać USA czy Big Pharmę?
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
10 May 2021
Quebra de patentes de vacinas: EUA e Espanha de um lado, Portugal e Alemanha do outro
Público, Portugal
10 May 2021
Εμβόλια Covid-19: υποκρισία με (ευρωπαϊκή) πατέντα
EfSyn, Greece
10 May 2021
EU negotiators defend high Covid vaccines prices paid to pharma
EUobserver, Belgium
23 September 2021
Dyrt å få vaksiner først
Klassekampen, Norway
23 September 2021
Colpo grosso Big Pharma: intascati 31 mld in più
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
23 September 2021
A UE cedeu às exigências das farmacêuticas em negociações secretas sobre o preço das vacinas
Público, Portugal
23 September 2021
„Diese Preise zahlen wir nicht“: Einblicke in die streng geheimen Verhandlungen zwischen EU und „Big Pharma“
Der Tagesspiegel, Germany
24 September 2021
EU’s ‘secret’ vaccine negotiators: Who’s dealing with Big Pharma?
EUobserver, Belgium
4 November 2021
Anonym im Namen der EU
taz, Germany
4 November 2021
Ue, i conflitti d’interessi dei negoziatori dei vaccini
Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy
6 November 2022
Vacinas covid: quem são os negociadores secretos da UE com a indústria farmacêutica?
Público, Portugal
8 November 2021
Οι Μυστικοί Εφτά και ο αρχιλομπίστας της Big Pharma
EfSyn, Greece
5 April 2022