INTRODUCTION
What is vaccine patent? Patents give vaccine
manufactures/producers exclusive rights to prevent
third parties from manufacturing, using, offering for selling or
importing the shot/vaccine they developed. Patent owners are also
free to charge a price that covers their research, development
costs and profit margin.
But such deep profit margins can be controversial and
insensitive during times of crisis, such as the ongoing COVID
pandemic.
What is patent waiver? A patent waiver would
legally allow any company with the required capacity to start
manufacturing the shot/vaccine, even without an agreement or
license from the patent owner or original developer.
WHY IS PATENT WAIVER NEEDED?