From Kul Gautam
The Open Letter below is addressed to President-elect Joe Biden by Public Citizen. It calls for A Plan for the People's Vaccine and should be of interest to all of us in XUNICEF.
.
In light of the loud complaints about excessive hoarding of the early COVID vaccines by the rich countries - e.g. Canada hoarding 6 times more vaccines than needed for its total population; and Trump's Executive Order commanding that vaccines produced by American companies can only be exported to other countries once ALL of USA's vaccine needs are met - the proposed Plan shows how Biden could and should be leading something equivalent to the post-WWII Marshall Plan centered around COVID-19.
The Plan, like the People's Vaccine Alliance for COVID-19 vaccine globally, highlights the dangers of Vaccine Nationalism, calling it "Vaccine Apartheid", warns that the current WHO, GAVI, UNICEF-led global COVAX initiative will only provide vaccines for a small percentage of the global population, and how it might take up to 2024 before all people who need the vaccine get it.
I was struck that Biden could rely on existing Presidential authority, including the Defense Production Act (DPA) and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), to jumpstart a massive global response that is commensurate with the magnitude of the problem.
The President apparently has the authority to negotiate with the manufacturers, fairly compensating them for sharing technology and relevant intellectual property rights so manufacturers around the world can quickly start ramping up production to meet the challenges of this once-in-a-century crisis.
If George W Bush could respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa through PEFAR, surely Biden should be able to provide leadership for a much bigger response for the much bigger COVID crisis. And what a marvelous contrast it would offer with the mean-spirited MAGA Trump.
I also found OXFAM America's Open Letter to Joe Biden, signed by an impressive list of prominent personalities - NGOs, faith-based organizations, distinguished academics and others (including Paul Farmer, Joseph Stiglitz, Robert Reich, Chelsea Clinton, Noam Chomsky, etc) quite impressive.
Let's hope that the Biden Team rises to the occasion to launch such an initiative.
The Open Letter below is addressed to President-elect Joe Biden by Public Citizen. It calls for A Plan for the People's Vaccine and should be of interest to all of us in XUNICEF.
.
In light of the loud complaints about excessive hoarding of the early COVID vaccines by the rich countries - e.g. Canada hoarding 6 times more vaccines than needed for its total population; and Trump's Executive Order commanding that vaccines produced by American companies can only be exported to other countries once ALL of USA's vaccine needs are met - the proposed Plan shows how Biden could and should be leading something equivalent to the post-WWII Marshall Plan centered around COVID-19.
The Plan, like the People's Vaccine Alliance for COVID-19 vaccine globally, highlights the dangers of Vaccine Nationalism, calling it "Vaccine Apartheid", warns that the current WHO, GAVI, UNICEF-led global COVAX initiative will only provide vaccines for a small percentage of the global population, and how it might take up to 2024 before all people who need the vaccine get it.
I was struck that Biden could rely on existing Presidential authority, including the Defense Production Act (DPA) and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), to jumpstart a massive global response that is commensurate with the magnitude of the problem.
The President apparently has the authority to negotiate with the manufacturers, fairly compensating them for sharing technology and relevant intellectual property rights so manufacturers around the world can quickly start ramping up production to meet the challenges of this once-in-a-century crisis.
If George W Bush could respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa through PEFAR, surely Biden should be able to provide leadership for a much bigger response for the much bigger COVID crisis. And what a marvelous contrast it would offer with the mean-spirited MAGA Trump.
I also found OXFAM America's Open Letter to Joe Biden, signed by an impressive list of prominent personalities - NGOs, faith-based organizations, distinguished academics and others (including Paul Farmer, Joseph Stiglitz, Robert Reich, Chelsea Clinton, Noam Chomsky, etc) quite impressive.
Let's hope that the Biden Team rises to the occasion to launch such an initiative.
Kul
Peter Maybarduk Zain Rizvi
citizen.org
27 min
View Original
After Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine, President Dwight Eisenhower paid tribute to the scientist in a Rose Garden ceremony. Salk’s work was “in the highest tradition of selfless and dedicated medical research,” said Eisenhower. “By helping scientists in other countries with technical information; by offering to them strains of seed virus and professional aid so that the production of vaccine can be started by them everywhere. . . Dr. Salk is a benefactor of mankind.”[1]
A safe and effective coronavirus vaccine could similarly prove a breakthrough for humanity—but only if it is available around the world quickly.
The moment calls for American leadership. Beneath some countries’ lofty rhetoric on cooperation, the situation appears bleak. The leading global vaccine initiative, COVAX, aims to supply only a fraction of humanity—two billion doses, likely enough for one billion people—by the end of 2021.[2] In May, a senior industry executive warned “When we think about what will be needed to address this pandemic, we are talking about orders of magnitude beyond what we as an industry are currently doing.”[3] In September, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer noted a dose may not reach everyone until the end of 2024 at the earliest.[4]
A prolonged delay will be calamitous. The new coronavirus has already plunged the world into the worst health crisis in a century. The pandemic has battered economies, fueled inequality, and killed at least one million people. Years of delay may compound the challenges, with consequences for political stability and international relations. Closer to home, critical industries may remain at a standstill. The sheer magnitude of disparity—with a few million people in rich countries protected, with billions left behind—could ultimately resemble a global vaccine apartheid.
President-Elect Biden can choose a different path. The U.S. government has the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to help others find a way out of this pandemic. In this report, we trace how the Biden Administration can help the world make as much vaccine as possible, as quickly as possible. We show an alternative to scarcity: a dose of vaccine can be used by only one person, but all of humanity can benefit from the underlying knowledge about how to make the vaccine. A strategy focused on sharing the vaccine “recipe”, building manufacturing capacity, and mobilizing countries and corporations to meet the needs of the moment can accelerate the global response. It can also help restore U.S. leadership.
We proceed in four parts. First, we present the case for American action, describing the impact of the pandemic and gaps in the global response. Second, we explore the history of a little-known U.S. government program that helped dramatically scale-up flu vaccine manufacturing capacity around the world. Building on this model, we lay out three actions President-Elect Biden can take—mobilize, share, build—to quickly supply the world with a coronavirus vaccine. In doing so, we explain how the President has authority under existing laws, including the Defense Production Act, to implement this program. Finally, we conclude by presenting what a bold plan to supply vaccines could mean for America and for the world.[5]
Last month, more than 100 high-level leaders from public health, faith-based, racial justice, and labor organizations, including Public Citizen’s President, joined former members of Congress, economists and artists to sign a public letter calling on President-Elect Biden to make the COVID-19 vaccine a People’s Vaccine: a global public good, freely and fairly available to all, prioritizing those most in need here at home and around the world.[6] This report lays out a plan for how to get there.
Vaccine Apartheid
The coronavirus pandemic is the worst crisis since World War II, according to head of the United Nations.[7] Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, 65 million cases have been reported.[8] More than 1.5 million people have died.[9] A U.N. report found that COVID-19 is “reversing decades of progress on poverty, healthcare and education.”[10] Lockdowns to contain the virus triggered the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression.[11] The virus is now expected to push 100 million people into extreme poverty.[12] Life expectancy will fall.[13] Nearly twice as many people will face hunger.[14] At home, critical industries that support hundreds of thousands of American workers may not recover for years.[15] IMF economists predict that “the COVID-19 pandemic will likely increase inequality, trigger social unrest, and lower future output in the years to come.”[16]
A potential vaccine offers hope. But unequal access may only exacerbate the global challenges, leading to an uneven and unstable economic recovery and prolonged human suffering. The global effort to provide vaccines is important but insufficient. Rich countries have already bought the majority of existing vaccine supply.[17] The leading global initiative, COVAX, aims to supply 2 billion doses by the end of 2021—if everything goes right and all funding targets are met. So far, it has procured 700 million doses.[18] More than ten billion vaccine doses may ultimately be needed, with demand only increasing if the vaccines provide limited immunity and require booster shots.[19] A narrow focus on donations and distribution overshadows the possibility of rapidly expanding supply.
Figure 1: COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Agreements[20]
/https%3A%2F%2Fmkus3lurbh3lbztg254fzode-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fvaccine-agreements.png)
Some countries have pushed hard on vaccine diplomacy. President Xi Jinping told the World Health Assembly that a vaccine would be a “global public good,”[21] though he did not specify his meaning. Last month, the Chinese leader pledged to work with BRICS countries “to advance collective vaccine research and trials, set up plants [and] authorize production.”[22] Chinese manufacturers are rapidly scaling-up. In a UNICEF survey, Chinese manufacturers reported that they expect to double COVID vaccine production capacity by 2022.[23] By 2023, China may account for half of all global production.[24] However, critical questions remain unanswered regarding the safety, efficacy, and distribution of potential Chinese vaccines.
The Biden Administration can step in to meet the needs of the moment. The U.S. government has played an important role in scaling up vaccine supply in the past.
Figure 2: BARDA Global Influenza Vaccine Partners (Blue/Yellow) (2016)[28]
/https%3A%2F%2Fmkus3lurbh3lbztg254fzode-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FBARDA-program-1024x769.jpg)
President-Elect Biden should launch a new program focused on supplying the world with a coronavirus vaccine. The program should aim to make as much vaccine as possible, as quickly as possible.
Getting there will require a global collaboration. No one corporation can supply the world, and fragmented licensing arrangements between corporations will not get us there quickly enough. President-Elect Biden should commit to sharing the know-how and intellectual property needed to produce a vaccine, so manufacturers around the world can quickly start ramping up production. He should also build additional manufacturing capacity.
A Plan for the People’s Vaccine
ByPeter Maybarduk Zain Rizvi
citizen.org
27 min
View Original
After Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine, President Dwight Eisenhower paid tribute to the scientist in a Rose Garden ceremony. Salk’s work was “in the highest tradition of selfless and dedicated medical research,” said Eisenhower. “By helping scientists in other countries with technical information; by offering to them strains of seed virus and professional aid so that the production of vaccine can be started by them everywhere. . . Dr. Salk is a benefactor of mankind.”[1]
A safe and effective coronavirus vaccine could similarly prove a breakthrough for humanity—but only if it is available around the world quickly.
The moment calls for American leadership. Beneath some countries’ lofty rhetoric on cooperation, the situation appears bleak. The leading global vaccine initiative, COVAX, aims to supply only a fraction of humanity—two billion doses, likely enough for one billion people—by the end of 2021.[2] In May, a senior industry executive warned “When we think about what will be needed to address this pandemic, we are talking about orders of magnitude beyond what we as an industry are currently doing.”[3] In September, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer noted a dose may not reach everyone until the end of 2024 at the earliest.[4]
A prolonged delay will be calamitous. The new coronavirus has already plunged the world into the worst health crisis in a century. The pandemic has battered economies, fueled inequality, and killed at least one million people. Years of delay may compound the challenges, with consequences for political stability and international relations. Closer to home, critical industries may remain at a standstill. The sheer magnitude of disparity—with a few million people in rich countries protected, with billions left behind—could ultimately resemble a global vaccine apartheid.
President-Elect Biden can choose a different path. The U.S. government has the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to help others find a way out of this pandemic. In this report, we trace how the Biden Administration can help the world make as much vaccine as possible, as quickly as possible. We show an alternative to scarcity: a dose of vaccine can be used by only one person, but all of humanity can benefit from the underlying knowledge about how to make the vaccine. A strategy focused on sharing the vaccine “recipe”, building manufacturing capacity, and mobilizing countries and corporations to meet the needs of the moment can accelerate the global response. It can also help restore U.S. leadership.
We proceed in four parts. First, we present the case for American action, describing the impact of the pandemic and gaps in the global response. Second, we explore the history of a little-known U.S. government program that helped dramatically scale-up flu vaccine manufacturing capacity around the world. Building on this model, we lay out three actions President-Elect Biden can take—mobilize, share, build—to quickly supply the world with a coronavirus vaccine. In doing so, we explain how the President has authority under existing laws, including the Defense Production Act, to implement this program. Finally, we conclude by presenting what a bold plan to supply vaccines could mean for America and for the world.[5]
Last month, more than 100 high-level leaders from public health, faith-based, racial justice, and labor organizations, including Public Citizen’s President, joined former members of Congress, economists and artists to sign a public letter calling on President-Elect Biden to make the COVID-19 vaccine a People’s Vaccine: a global public good, freely and fairly available to all, prioritizing those most in need here at home and around the world.[6] This report lays out a plan for how to get there.
Vaccine Apartheid
The coronavirus pandemic is the worst crisis since World War II, according to head of the United Nations.[7] Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, 65 million cases have been reported.[8] More than 1.5 million people have died.[9] A U.N. report found that COVID-19 is “reversing decades of progress on poverty, healthcare and education.”[10] Lockdowns to contain the virus triggered the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression.[11] The virus is now expected to push 100 million people into extreme poverty.[12] Life expectancy will fall.[13] Nearly twice as many people will face hunger.[14] At home, critical industries that support hundreds of thousands of American workers may not recover for years.[15] IMF economists predict that “the COVID-19 pandemic will likely increase inequality, trigger social unrest, and lower future output in the years to come.”[16]
A potential vaccine offers hope. But unequal access may only exacerbate the global challenges, leading to an uneven and unstable economic recovery and prolonged human suffering. The global effort to provide vaccines is important but insufficient. Rich countries have already bought the majority of existing vaccine supply.[17] The leading global initiative, COVAX, aims to supply 2 billion doses by the end of 2021—if everything goes right and all funding targets are met. So far, it has procured 700 million doses.[18] More than ten billion vaccine doses may ultimately be needed, with demand only increasing if the vaccines provide limited immunity and require booster shots.[19] A narrow focus on donations and distribution overshadows the possibility of rapidly expanding supply.
Figure 1: COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Agreements[20]
Some countries have pushed hard on vaccine diplomacy. President Xi Jinping told the World Health Assembly that a vaccine would be a “global public good,”[21] though he did not specify his meaning. Last month, the Chinese leader pledged to work with BRICS countries “to advance collective vaccine research and trials, set up plants [and] authorize production.”[22] Chinese manufacturers are rapidly scaling-up. In a UNICEF survey, Chinese manufacturers reported that they expect to double COVID vaccine production capacity by 2022.[23] By 2023, China may account for half of all global production.[24] However, critical questions remain unanswered regarding the safety, efficacy, and distribution of potential Chinese vaccines.
The Biden Administration can step in to meet the needs of the moment. The U.S. government has played an important role in scaling up vaccine supply in the past.
Figure 2: BARDA Global Influenza Vaccine Partners (Blue/Yellow) (2016)[28]
President-Elect Biden should launch a new program focused on supplying the world with a coronavirus vaccine. The program should aim to make as much vaccine as possible, as quickly as possible.
Getting there will require a global collaboration. No one corporation can supply the world, and fragmented licensing arrangements between corporations will not get us there quickly enough. President-Elect Biden should commit to sharing the know-how and intellectual property needed to produce a vaccine, so manufacturers around the world can quickly start ramping up production. He should also build additional manufacturing capacity.
An Open Letter to President-Elect Biden.
ByOxfam America
oxfamus.medium.com
10 min
View Original
A People’s Vaccine — Free and Fair for All — to End the COVID-19 Crisis
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A safe, effective and accessible COVID-19 vaccine is vital to bring an end to today’s dual economic and health crisis — so our families are safe, so people can get back to work, so we can live our lives again. No one anywhere is safe from this disease until everyone everywhere is safe.
As a cross-section of leaders from public health, business, faith-based, racial justice and labor organizations, public service, entertainment and economics, we join our voices to call on the next President of the United States to commit to a People’s Vaccine, which provides protection as a global public good, freely and fairly available to all, prioritizing those most in need worldwide.
The next US President will have tremendous power to help decide who gets access to protection from this virus, when and at what cost. With this power comes an historic opportunity for America to lead again by leveraging the strength, know-how and generosity of our people to combat this disease here at home and wherever it resides.
A People’s Vaccine is a medical necessity, an economic priority, and a moral imperative. The COVID-19 virus ruthlessly exploits existing inequalities, disproportionately affecting seniors, frontline healthcare and other essential workers, communities of color, people living in poverty, and people at more risk due to pre-existing conditions. Conflict over access to a vaccine that is distributed based on one’s wealth or nationality — rather than on need — will risk millions of lives, delay our economic recovery and exacerbate the crisis. A safe, effective, free and fairly distributed People’s Vaccine is the fastest and most effective way to fight this pandemic, reopen our businesses and schools, protect Americans and our interests, and save lives here in the US and around the world. At a time when millions of Americans and people around the world face the dual-ills of health and economic insecurity, with communities of color facing disproportionate burdens, and where too many households stand only one health crisis away from poverty, it has never been more important to deliver a vaccine that can serve to protect working people.
Toward this end, the technology and know-how to make a COVID-19 vaccine should be shared with the world. Patents should be licensed, data published, and technical assistance provided to teach appropriate vaccine production, so that qualified manufacturers everywhere can help expand the world’s supply and prevent the type of artificial scarcity which will cost lives and livelihoods at home and abroad.
US taxpayers have already committed more than $10 billion in public money towards a COVID19 vaccine. A vaccine paid for by the people should work for the people and remain of the people.
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We call on President-Elect Biden to:
Empower scientists to independently determine — without fear or favor — if each vaccine is safe and effective for approval. Neither politics nor profits have a place in the vaccine approval process.
Ensure full transparency and accountability over US funding for the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
Guarantee all vaccines are sold at affordable prices, as close to cost as possible, to ensure that the US and other governments can provide protection to people for free.
Ensure that companies and research institutions share vaccine technologies and know-how nationally and globally to overcome price and supply barriers, especially for those vaccines developed with taxpayer money.
Prevent monopoly control of production in order to mobilize large-scale and decentralized manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines to adequately supply safe and effective vaccines for people here and around the world.
Work collaboratively with world leaders and health authorities worldwide to deliver and implement a fair and equitable global distribution plan for the vaccine and all COVID-19 products and technologies.
Prioritize protection for those people most in need and most at risk, including frontline healthcare and social-care workers, essential workers, older people, people with preexisting conditions at higher risk, and high-transmission communities here and around the world.
For the list of signatories, see the original article linked above.
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