If pharmaceutical companies do not waive intellectual property rights the cost could reach $80bn
The world’s developing countries could be vaccinated against Covid-19 at a cost of just $6.5bn (£4.6n) if pharmaceutical companies waive their intellectual property rights, under plans being outlined at the G7 summit this weekend.
Unless an agreement is reached with vaccine developers, the cost of vaccinating the citizens of all low- and middle-income countries could reach $80bn, according to calculations by the aid charity Oxfam.
Related: EU ‘ready to discuss’ waiver on Covid vaccine patents
Related: The Covid vaccine will benefit humanity – we should all own the patent | Owen Jones