COVID-19 is the biggest pandemic catastrophe of our generation, not an opportunity to make a big profit – but that’s exactly what some pharmaceutical companies are pursuing, while lives and the global economy are on the line.
COVID-19 vaccines were developed to save the world from the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that we need 60% global coverage to begin seeing the end of COVID-19 for good – and the longer it takes, the more at risk we are of further deadly mutations of the virus emerging and threatening everyone all over again.
Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax — companies with leading COVID-19 vaccines already being distributed, or close to it — are taking a profit, making it harder or in some cases impossible for lower-income countries to access them. This is a dangerous path, with experts saying that millions of people may not receive the vaccine until as late as 2024.
But it doesn't have to be this way. Other vaccine producers Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca have both committed to non-profit pricing of their COVID-19 vaccines through the pandemic to provide wider global access and fairness.
If they can commit to this, the others can too. Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax must not let profit get in the way of saving people’s lives and ensuring the world can recover better together.
Call on Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax to commit to independently audited non-profit pricing of their COVID-19 vaccines. Email now.