The Australian Government has come out in support of a temporary waiver on current trade rules that give big pharmaceutical companies 20-year monopolies on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments (the TRIPS waiver).
If the waiver comes into effect, it would enable rapid and
affordable vaccine production, expanding access to billions of people living in low-income countries. Currently, only 1.9% of people living in low-income countries have received a vaccine.
This is a huge win for people power and ending global inequality – made possible by every ActionAid supporter who took action on the campaign. It shows that we can really make a difference when we act together. Thank you.
Equitable access to vaccines is critical to ensuring women don’t continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic. Women make up the majority of global health workers. Many women are in informal or insecure jobs, often meaning they have no choice but to go to work even endangers their health and safety.
The campaign is not over: vaccine apartheid will continue unless the waiver is supported by all countries at the World Trade Organisation.
Australia now needs to turn its words into action and help lead the passage of the TRIPS waiver at the upcoming World Trade Organisation meeting on September 14th. ActionAid Australia and its partners urge the Australian Government to make a public statement in support of the waiver and actively promote the waiver to countries still opposed to it, such as Germany.
Help ensure Australia lives up to its promise of vaccine equity. Send a quick message to Trade Minister Dan Tehan today: https://www.amnesty.org.au/act-now/vaccines-low-income-countries/
Note: We’re more powerful when we act together, so ActionAid has teamed up with our friends at Amnesty International Australia and other organisations to run this campaign. The link will direct you to Amnesty’s website.