Angola Backs COVID-19 vaccines Patent Waiver

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Angola accepted a request to remove patent rights on Covid-19 vaccines by the Paris Summit on Tuesday to create lifesaving jabs for developing countries.

Angola’s Minister of Finance said her country completely embraces the summit’s appeal and the African Union’s (AU) vision to stimulate vaccine development on the continent.

“The motto was set for reflection around giving up intellectual [patents] of vaccines so that technology and knowledge can be relocated to some regions of Africa, so that local production can better meet demand,” said Angolan finance minister Vera Daves de Sousa.

“We must evaluate ourselves in terms of our ability to receive and the teams to receive this knowledge transfer. We do not rule out this possibility, “she said.

Vaccine-making centers

In April, the AU declared the start of a collaboration to produce vaccines in the next 15 years in five research centers on the continent.

According to John Nkengasong, director of Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an AU agency, the five centers will be based in North, South, East, Western, and Central Africa in the next 10-15 years.

Just one percent of all vaccines used in Africa are currently generated on the continent and in 20 years, the AU intends to raise this share to 60%.

The United States, the European Union, and the World Trade Organization backed the plan to waive patents.

Portugal, which holds the European Union rotating presidency, said that the pandemic recovery in Africa requires stronger assistance.

“The Covid situation has basically made it clear that never before have Europe and Africa been so close together and so dependent on each other because none of us will be safe until we are all vaccinated and, on the other hand, the economic recovery of each will be all the greater if it is accompanied by the economic recovery of all,” Prime Minister António Costa said.

The Paris Summit called for the IMF Exclusive Drawing Rights to be re-allocated in order to expand its share of Africa from the US $30 billion to $100 billion.

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