Sir, – This Christmas will once again be overshadowed by Covid-19, and in particular the new Omicron variant which is putting the lives of millions around the world at risk and huge pressure on health systems everywhere. While Ireland and richer nations are ramping up their Covid-19 vaccine booster programmes, people in the world’s poorest countries are still almost completely unprotected. The most recent World Health Organisation figures show that 66 per cent of people in high-income countries have had at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine compared to only 9 per cent in low-income countries. The Africa Centres for Disease Control says in many countries on the continent, including where Trócaire works, the vaccination rates hover at around 1 per cent. This inequity is a shocking injustice. Pharmaceutical companies currently have too much power and control over where Covid-19 vaccines are produced, and at what price. The emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus has highlighted that more mutations will inevitably emerge until we are all protected. A crucial step towards redressing the global vaccine inequity is to grant a temporary patent waiver for Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing, allowing countries to produce their own generic versions of vaccines. The recent passing of a Seanad motion introduced by independent Senator Alice Mary Higgins calling on the Government to support a vital temporary patent waiver for Covid-19 vaccines is welcomed. But Ireland must now act on the motion and join other states in supporting a Trips (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver. There are currently over 100 countries supporting the Trips waiver on Covid-19 vaccines, including the United States. The Irish Government should also use its influence within the European Union to change its blocking position on the temporary waiver proposal and facilitate the urgent scaling up of global supply of life-saving vaccines. Vaccine equity would be the best Christmas present possible for us all. – Is mise,
CAOIMHE de BARRA,
CEO,
Trócaire,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.