Sanofi prioritizes US for vaccines: Oxfam reaction

Responding to reports that French pharmaceutical company, Sanofi, will prioritize the US for any new COVID-19 vaccine, Sandra L’hote-Fernandes, Oxfam’s Health & Gender Equality Advisor said:

“In lieu of global cooperation and solidarity, pharmaceutical companies are being empowered to act as kingmakers ―deciding who lives and who dies― and using this new-found power to extract subsidies and potentially high prices for new COVID-19 vaccines. 

“Governments must work together to stop corporations profiteering from the pandemic and save the lives of people across the globe.  When they meet at the World Health Assembly next week, they must demand that vaccines, tests, and treatments will be patent-free, equitably distributed to all nations and people, and free at the point of delivery.”

The news comes as over 140 current and former world leaders, economists and health experts ―including the President of South Africa and Chair of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, the President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall and the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo― have signed an open letter calling on all governments to unite behind a people’s vaccine against COVID-19.