US backs waiver on vaccine patents to boost supply
The US has thrown its support behind an initiative at the World Trade Business (WTO) to waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines.
India and South Africa proposed the approach, which they said would boost vaccine production all over the world.
But drugs makers argue it might not exactly have the desired effect.
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that "extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures".
And she warned that it would devote some time for WTO participants to attain a consensus decision on the problem.
India and South Africa were the leading voices found in several about 60 countries which going back half a year has been trying to get the patents on vaccines reserve.
Even so, they met with strong opposition from the previous US administration of Donald Trump, the UK and the EU.
But Mr Trump's successor as US President, Joe Biden, has taken a good different tack. He backed a waiver through the 2020 presidential plan and reiterated his support on Wednesday.
The top of the World Well being Organization (WHO) called the approach a "monumental moment" in the fight Covid-19.
If approved, supporters say, the waiver allows production of vaccines to come to be ramped up and offer more affordable dosages for less wealthy countries.
Many growing countries have argued that rules requiring countries to safeguard patents and other types of intellectual property are an obstacle to ramping up the production of vaccines and additional products had a need to tackle the pandemic.
The US had previously helped block WTO negotiations about the waiver proposal led by India and South Africa targeted at helping growing countries to create vaccines using the intellectual property of pharmaceutical companies.
Ms Tai said the US would now attempt negotiations at the WTO to secure the waiver. This may devote some time as WTO decisions require a consensus of all 164 members.
