Australia has finally backed a plan to let developing countries make cheap COVID-19 vaccines — what matters is what it does next

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:08:50 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/australia-has-finally-backed-a-plan-to-let-developing-countries-make-cheap-covid-19-vaccines-what-matters-is-what-it-does-next-167630>

"Australia held out longer than the US, even though US companies had more at
stake. But unless Australia and other wealthy nations do more to merely vote
for the waiver, “grotesque” vaccination gaps are set to continue for years to
come.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan came out in support of the waiver at a meeting with
several community organisations last Tuesday. He confirmed Australia’s changed
stance in comments to The Guardian the following day.

The shift raises the chances of the waiver proposal getting through, boosting
the global supply of vaccines, treatments and testing kits — a move that would
benefit every nation afflicted by supply shortages, including Australia.

More than 100 of the WTO’s 164 member nations support it. But there are still
wealthy nations holding out — including Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom and the European Union."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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