Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence welcomes President Biden’s support for TRIPS waiver on Covid vaccines

Cathaoirleach of the Committee, Charles Flanagan TD said: “The commitment made by President Biden and the United States, at a time when there is a devastating Covid-19 outbreak across India which now seems to be spreading across other countries in the region, will add much needed impetus at the World Trade Organisation to waive IP rights held by pharmaceutical companies in respect of Covid vaccines.

“The Joint Committee published a report earlier this year calling on the Government to support and endorse C-TAP (Covid-19 Technology Access Pool) and the efforts of the World Health Organisation, through COVAX, to ensure that low and middle income countries get equal access to Covid vaccines. An agreement by the WTO to a TRIPS waiver for all Covid vaccines will add much need capacity to production to further ensure that we continue to safeguard the future for those most in need across the world.”