Scientist urges African countries to intensify voice against vaccine nationalism

Ravindra Gupta, a Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Cambridge in U.K., on Wednesday urged African countries to make a stronger voice against COVID-19 vaccine nationalism.

The vaccine nationalism happens when governments sign agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers to supply their own populations with vaccines before they are made  available for other countries.

Gupta spoke with NAN on the sideline of the Conference on Health Advances, Innovation and Research (CHAIR), organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos.

He was speaking against the backdrop of vaccine nationalism which  has deprived many developing and poor countries access to COVID-19 vaccine.

Gupta noted that equal access to vaccination was vital to win the war against the deadly virus.

“There is problem globally of vaccine supply because the rich countries are buying all the vaccine and they have more than they need.

“This is a very tough situation because access to vaccination for all is very vital if we must win the war against COVID-19 globally.

“Africa countries and the media should mobilise more and make a stronger voice against this unjust act,” he said.

According to him, vaccine manufacturing countries should release patent of their vaccine to enable other countries manufacture vaccines to meet global demand.

“There is need to release patent and relax patent protection so that manufacturing can occur in other countries.

“This is very essential to end COVID-19 and also for the global economy,” Gupta said.

NAN reports that the theme for the three-day event  which started on Nov.8 is “COVID-19 Pandemic: Consolidating the Gains and Addressing the Shortfalls”.