Make any Covid-19 vaccine affordable for all

Call on the UK government to ensure that any vaccine developed with public money is made affordable and available to all. And urge them to work globally so that any vaccine reaches the most vulnerable everywhere.

We need a vaccine for this virus to be developed as quickly as possible and public money is pouring in to make that possible but we cannot allow big pharma to profiteer from the public investment that is being committed to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

The UK government has already committed £544 million towards researching a vaccine and treatments. But unless conditions are attached to public research, big corporations can shut out anyone who can’t afford their prices.

And this exclusive big pharma system also means that the UK government needs to urgently promote global collaboration to ensure that any Covid-19 vaccine reaches those most at risk first otherwise there is a real danger of richer countries hoarding the vaccine. 

Sign the petition to the UK government. 

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Along with this petition we will also be sending a letter to the UK government with the following asks:

  1. Ensure conditions are attached on all UK funding that is being invested to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 to ensure the vaccine is affordable, accessible and available in the UK and also in lower income countries. This should also include a condition to ensure the vaccine is not monopolised by one pharmaceutical company but can be produced around the world by different manufacturers.
     
  2. Most of UK public funding towards a Covid-19 vaccine will be channeled to the global vaccine development programme, the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). As a public funder and board member, the UK government should support CEPI’s efforts to ensure fair and affordable access to the vaccine globally.
     
  3. Support global co-ordination to improve global and public production of vaccines and ensure that public health priorities and needs drive the production and distribution of any new Covid-19 vaccine.

Photo: Penn State/Flickr