THE UK Government must evoke the spirit of Scottish pharmacist Alexander Fleming and work with the rest of the world to ensure that when a vaccine is found for Covid-19, it is made available to all, according to a leading SNP MP.
Dr Philippa Whitford, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Vaccinations for All, has written a cross-party letter calling for Westminster to guarantee equitable global access to any Covid-19 vaccine.
The letter has been signed by MPs and peers from all political parties in Westminster, and calls on the UK Government to ensure any publicly funded vaccine is available on an open-access basis, so developing countries can afford to the vaccine at “a reasonable cost”.
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It claims it must make sure that it does not allow “pharmaceutical monopoly” that could see developing countries left behind while any patent rights to the vaccine are held by the World Health Organisation.
Whitford said: “When Scottish pharmacist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, he recognised it was an incredible health breakthrough that should be widely available. He gave up the opportunity to amass personal wealth and instead transferred the patent to the UK and US governments.
“In that same spirit, the UK Government must work cooperatively with the rest of the world and ensure that any Covid-19 vaccine will not be patented, to create a monopoly, but allow equitable access across the world.”
The APPC was supported in its call by many health and developmental advocacy charities, she claimed.
Whitford, who worked as a breast cancer surgeon before becoming an MP, added: “Just as coronavirus does not see borders, it is absolutely crucial that the fight against the virus is a worldwide effort.
“The UK Government should follow the lead of Costa Rica in supporting a global sharing or open access mechanism so that any patent rights are held by the World Health Organisation. While this a humanitarian approach, it also makes sense from a public health perspective.
“We have seen the speed with which Covid-19 has spread across the world, so failure to control or eliminate it in developing countries would just see the virus returning to cause further epidemics in the future.
“A vaccine will only be globally effective if it’s affordable, accessible and available for everyone who needs it – now is the time to act to make that possible.”
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In recent months teams around the world have been racing to find a vaccine, with some claiming restrictions will not be fully lifted until one is ready.
Experts typically suggest one to be fast tracked within 12-18 months.
However, yesterday Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, told The Times that she is “80% confident” a vaccine her team is currently leading on will work, and could be ready by September. She claimed human trials were due to start within weeks.
Last month the UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced that six coronavirus research projects, including two focused on vaccination trials, will be the first to benefit from a share of £20 million in government investment.
At the time, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said the projects would “allow us to boost our existing knowledge and test new and innovative ways to understand and treat the disease”.
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