Hundreds of Lobbyists Dispatched to Block Generic Covid-19 Vaccines

The Pharmaceutical Industry is pouring resources into the growing political fight over Generic coronavirus vaccines. Newly filed disclosure forms from the first quarter of 2021 show that over 100 lobbyists have been appointed and mobilized to contact lawmakers and members of the Biden Administration.The information got surveyed which said that the Lobbyists have been urging the government to oppose a proposed temporary waiver on intellectual property rights by the World Trade Organization that would allow Generic vaccines to be produced on the global stage. In addition, several trade groups funded by Pharmaceutical industries have focused closely on beating the bush and fighting against the Generic proposal.

The push has been constantly triggered by a number of influential voices taking the side of the drug lobby. Last week, Sen. Thom Tillis, released a letter demanding that the administration oppose any and all effects aimed at waiving intellectual property rights. The concerning talking point across the world has been the distribution of vaccines to low-income countries. If the projections continue at the same rate as of now, much of the world’s population may not be vaccinated until 2023 or 2024.

In response to the waiver, a coalition of countries, led by India and South Africa, have petitioned the WTO to temporarily suspend intellectual property rights on coronavirus-related medicine products. In response, the US is extending its support by providing raw materials to India so that Generic vaccines can be rapidly manufactured.

If the intellectual property rights get granted, local pharmaceutical plants could be granted compulsory licenses to produce Coronavirus vaccines without the threat of being sued by the license holder. It could pose a threat to the countries that do not have adequate supply and are suffering immensely because of the lack of domestic production of vaccines.