Countries push for IP waivers on Covid-19 vaccine access

Coronavirus vaccine.

A number of African countries including Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco, have made orders for Covid-19 vaccine. PHOTO | AFP

As African states place orders for Covid-19 vaccines, a coalition of countries is proposing for an IP waiver for accessing Covid-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organisation negotiations.

While India and South Africa propose a waiver from some of the WTO’s intellectual property rules, a new proposal by a coalition of countries referred to as “Ottawa Group” has called for the launch of a new “Trade and Health Initiative”.