Biden: "If Vaccines Increase, Finished Products Will Be Provided Overseas... Technology Sharing"

Attention Focused on Vaccine Patent Sharing Issues

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Joe Biden is pushing to supply finished COVID-19 vaccines to overseas countries including India, stating that if additional vaccines are permitted, vaccine-related technology will be provided to countries in need.

President Biden made these remarks on the 27th (local time) at the White House in response to questions about donating COVID-19 vaccines to India.

Referring to his phone call with Prime Minister Modi the previous day, President Biden said, "I discussed with him when we can actually send vaccines to India." He added, "That is my intention." President Biden also stated that not only medicines needed by India but also equipment necessary for vaccine production will be supplied.

The Biden administration announced the day before that it plans to support other countries with 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

However, President Biden said that they need to observe the emergence of new vaccines such as Novavax, mentioning, "We will not only be able to share vaccines but also transfer technology (know-how) to countries in need."

President Biden's mention of technology is particularly noteworthy, as it can be interpreted to mean that the U.S. may provide vaccine technology overseas.

The World Trade Organization (WTO), intellectuals within the U.S., and progressive politicians have been advocating for the U.S. to temporarily suspend COVID-19 vaccine patents to support vaccine supply to underdeveloped countries.

The day before, the White House disclosed that Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), met with CEOs of Pfizer and AstraZeneca to discuss opinions on sharing vaccine patents. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry is opposing the temporary suspension of vaccine patents, stating that such a demand is unacceptable.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.