Time for a People’s Vaccine to tackle Covid-19 with justice and equity

Friends of the Earth International calls for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights (TRIPS waiver) on Covid-19 vaccines and medical supplies to end "Vaccine Apartheid" and ensure global immunisation. The statement argues that corporate monopolies and the hoarding of vaccines by wealthy nations have created a moral crisis, leaving the global South with alarmingly low vaccination rates while high-income countries prioritise profits and their own citizens.

• The document advocates for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights (TRIPS waiver) at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to allow more countries and companies to produce vaccines locally and at lower costs. While the US and New Zealand have announced support, and over 100 countries back the proposal, the United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Norway, and Switzerland are identified as states still blocking the opportunity to protect pharmaceutical profits.
• There is a severe global disparity in vaccine distribution, with high-income countries vaccinating 25 times faster than the lowest-income countries. In the Philippines, less than 1% of the population has been vaccinated, and Africa has received only 2% of all vaccine doses administered globally, relying on a COVAX system described as failing to provide sufficient supplies.
• Pharmaceutical companies are generating high profits from vaccines developed with public funding. For instance, Pfizer is selling its vaccine candidate for approximately $39 for two doses, which represents an 80% profit margin.
• The document describes the current situation in India as a deadly second wave of Covid-19 characterized by collapsing health systems and over 300,000 daily cases. In Brazil, the situation is described as a disaster where the government has failed the population, and the country accounted for over a quarter of global Covid-19 deaths in April.

APA

FOEIAdmin (2021). Time for a People’s Vaccine to tackle Covid-19 with justice and equity. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/time-for-a-peoples-vaccine-to-tackle-covid-19-with-justice-and-equity/

Chicago

FOEIAdmin. Time for a People’s Vaccine to tackle Covid-19 with justice and equity. Friends of the Earth International, 2021. https://www.foei.org/time-for-a-peoples-vaccine-to-tackle-covid-19-with-justice-and-equity/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=FOEIAdmin |title=Time for a People’s Vaccine to tackle Covid-19 with justice and equity |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=7 May 2021 |url=https://www.foei.org/time-for-a-peoples-vaccine-to-tackle-covid-19-with-justice-and-equity/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{foeiadmin2021time, author = {FOEIAdmin}, title = {{Time for a People’s Vaccine to tackle Covid-19 with justice and equity}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.foei.org/time-for-a-peoples-vaccine-to-tackle-covid-19-with-justice-and-equity/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }