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2020-2021 Trócaire Annual Report
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Trócaire is working with communities across the world who are coping with the impacts of Covid-19. In Southern Africa, because of lack of access to life saving vaccines, people remain at risk of dying from Covid-19.
The European Union is blocking an attempt to remove barriers, that would allow potential generic manufacturers in low-income countries to produce their own life-saving vaccines. By doing this, the EU is protecting the profits of big pharma, instead of the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.
Email your local TDs now, asking them to ensure the Irish Government pushes the EU to change its position and support a comprehensive COVID-19 intellectual property waiver at the World Trade Organisation.
Trócaire is a member of the People’s Vaccine Alliance Ireland, for more information on Vaccine Equity click here.
March 2022 marks two years since Covid 19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. So far, approximately 6 million people have died from Covid-19 globally. This figure will continue to rise in the absence of an equitable roll out of vaccines across the world. The fairest and most effective way to end this pandemic is to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to Covid-19 vaccines, tests and treatments.
As your constituent, I am requesting that you contact the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister Ryan as the three party leaders of the Coalition Government and urge them to take a public position in support of the “Waiver from Certain Provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the Prevention, Containment and Treatment of Covid-19.”
Vaccines have played a vital part in better protecting Irish citizens from Covid 19, and have contributed to the recent re-opening of Irish society. However, social and economic recovery from this pandemic is far from global. Inequalities in vaccine access between high and low income countries remain stark, and this is prolonging the global public health emergency. In low-income countries, just 6.3% of people have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to Our World in Data. In high-income countries, 73% of the population has been fully vaccinated with at least two doses*. Direct impacts of this inequality are preventable deaths and the rising numbers of people living in extreme poverty and hunger. Vaccine inequality also increases the risk of new coronavirus variants emerging. The common global good is best served by bringing this vaccine inequity to an end.
A key opportunity to overcome vaccine inequality was proposed by South Africa and India in 2020. While their proposal for a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights, that would enable the manufacture of affordable vaccines and their predictable supply around the world, is supported by the vast majority of members of the World Trade Organisation, the EU has persisted in opposing the initiative. I support the call of the People’s Vaccine Alliance Ireland in urging the Irish Government to work to ensure that the EU reverses its blockage of the “Waiver from Certain Provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the Prevention, Containment and Treatment of Covid-19.
Ireland’s international development policy is based on a vision of a more equal world that is committed to shaping and protecting our prosperity and our shared interests. It is very welcome that the Irish government has been donating vaccines to low-income countries, but this is insufficient in the context of a global pandemic. I believe it is past time for Ireland to raise its voice in favour of the temporary waiver at the World Trade Organisation.
In December 2021, Seanad Éireann unanimously passed a motion calling on the Irish Government to support this waiver. I now ask you Deputy, to stand in solidarity with those most at risk of Covid 19 around the world – especially those in low-income countries. Please contact the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister Ryan and urge them to take a public position supporting the necessity for a temporary waiver and to clearly affirm the Irish Government’s support for such an initiative within the EU.
*Our World in Data 4th March 2022
Yours sincerely
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Stay up-to date with Trócaire's work overseas, get news on key global social justice issues and find out about our latest campaigns in Ireland and how you can get involved.
