I’ve invited you to fill out a form:
Endorsements for “A PEOPLES VACCINE IN INDIA: A collective letter to PM – Oxfam India and Forum for Medical Ethics Society”
The pandemic threatens all of us. Unchecked, the virus could kill millions and risks pushing a billion people into poverty. Ensuring everyone has ethical and safe access to the vaccine will save lives, reduce the pressure on the healthcare system and accelerate India’s return to normalcy. India needs to drastically scale up vaccination, particularly for those who are vulnerable, in the shortest possible time.
This calls for leadership from the central government. This is not just morally imperative, but time critical since it may be a year or less before the virus mutates to the extent that the majority of first-generation vaccines may be ineffective. Many Indians cannot afford to buy the vaccine which amounts to 43% of the monthly income for the bottom fifth of India’s population. Vaccine manufacturers should not make profits at this time of crisis, especially when Serum Institute of India is under obligation to ensure equitable access to the vaccine at no profit.
Accordingly, we call on the government to take action to ensure a peoples’ vaccine. It must have a detailed, time-bound and transparent COVID-19 Vaccine policy and action plan arrived at in consultation with the States and India’s experts and citizens at large and ensure transparency in contractual agreements reached by the government with the pharma sector. It must
1. Ensure that the vaccine is purchased at true cost prices and provided free of charge to all
2. Ensure its fair allocation which prioritizes at-risk groups, is sensitive to the existence of the digital divide and is able to reach the vulnerable where they are
3. Be rooted in large scale vaccine procurement by the Central Government at regulated prices which do not financially cripple the finances of India’s states or pitch them against each other in the quest of scarce lifesaving vaccines
4. Immediately enhance financial outlays to public health and do what it takes to make the above happen through all possible steps including compulsory licensing of vaccines and ramping up public sector vaccine manufacturing capacity, to strengthen the public health system to be better prepared for the potential next wave of the pandemic.
We also support India’s global advocacy on the vaccine including
1. Temporary relaxations for Intellectual Property rights, patents and other such provisions under the TRIPS Agreement of the WTO to ensure free and equitable vaccines for all
2. Addressing Vaccine Nationalism by rich countries including lifting bans on exports of ingredients for vaccine manufacturing and;
3. Redistribution of excess vaccine stocks anticipated to not be used in the global north.
More information about the asks can be obtained in the Oxfam India-FMES Policy Brief on this issue which can be accessed here:
PB- People’s Vaccine
To support this petition, please fill the form below.