Himanshu Singh, University of Lucknow
ABSTRACT
The indispensable advent of proven and efficacious vaccines against Covid-19 - which has claimed over 4.16 million lives so far, emerged as an ebullient source of light holding the greatest promise to resolve the darkness of this pandemic. However, the insurmountable task of inoculating millions around the globe will need pre-eminent measures in the sectors of vaccine production and their equitable distribution. A great encumbrance to such recourse in the present setup of vaccine production-distribution lies in the form of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) which the developers of already a handful of vaccines, avail themselves of. Apart from this, the post-introductory, nascent stage of vaccines has indicated towards a deepened self-interest of developed countries resulting in accumulation of essential raw elements and in the biased distribution of the same, defeating the statesmanship of solidarity and multilateral cooperation which can assure better accessibility to all. In this regard, the set of proposals moved by India and South Africa to waive certain provisions of the TRIPS agreement around Covid-19 related therapeutics, emits the possibility of an institutionalized response with the greatest potential to upscale the productive-distributive facilities allowing the developing countries to adopt a much comprehensive strategy ensuring sufficient and affordable access to vaccine technologies. This article, while making the case for such a waiver, sets out to ascertain and explain various dimensions including its desiderium, feasibility and implications amidst the ongoing consideration by the TRIPS Council.
