Vaccine equity: there is no time to waste

EEditiotriaolsrials Vaccine equity: there is no time to waste Akhil Bansala Inequitable distribution and access to to temporarily waive intellectual prop- southern Africa have been transparent vaccines for the coronavirus disease erty protection on COVID-19 vaccines. [...] The waiver to their intellectual property for the CO- and political disruption.1 Over 7.8 bil- would allow factories around the world VID-19 vaccines and other technologies. [...] Doing so Pandemics, a grassroots non-profit or- were given in lower-middle-income or is essential in facilitating global access to ganization that advocates vaccine equity, low-income countries2 although these the COVID-19 vaccines and treatment, is encouraging people in the United countries are carrying a disproportion- particularly for those living in the lowest Kingdom to write to their members [...] Perhaps the work of greater for low-income countries than tries.8 The initiative has also received international organizations, organized for high-income countries.3 support from international organiza- advocacy from respected professional The omicron variant of the severe tions such as WHO, Médecins Sans bodies or grassroots campaigning from acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus Frontières, Amne [...] However, the proposal does mately, we all must campaign for vaccine partly due to inequitable distribution, not have the support of the pharmaceu- equity and the TRIPS waiver, because has likely fuelled the emergence of this tical industry, nor that of many high- until the entire world has equal access variant, since it is well established that income countries, including Australia, to vaccines, t