Covid-19

Pfizer briefed Irish politicians against waiver of patents on Covid vaccines

Emails show the company emphasised on-the-ground supply issues facing poorer countries ahead of a global decision on IP rights which divided activists and the pharmaceutical industry

Pfizer wrote to Irish politicians arguing that countries with lower vaccine uptake were struggling more with an ‘excess supply of vaccine’ than with their inability to make their own vaccines due to IP licensing laws. Picture: Getty

Pfizer briefed Irish politicians against the idea of temporarily scrapping intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines during global discussions about how to help poorer countries access the lifesaving medicines.

Letters show the pharmaceutical giant wrote to Irish politicians arguing that countries with lower vaccine uptake – mostly those in the global south – were struggling more with an “excess supply of vaccine” than with their inability to make their own vaccines due to IP licensing ...