Pharmaceutical Companies Failing to Meet Human Rights Responsibilities Amidst Global Covid-19 Vaccine Shortage

Strategic Insights -

Amidst a global Covid-19 vaccine shortage, six major pharmaceutical companies are being accused of failing to meet their human rights responsibilities. AstraZeneca, BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer have refused to participate in initiatives to boost global vaccine supply, with the majority of their production going to upper-middle and high-income countries. According to a new report by Amnesty International, these companies have blocked technology transfers, lobbied against measures to expand global manufacturing, and prioritized profits over lives.

Key Takeaways:

  • The six vaccine developers assessed by Amnesty International have failed to meet their human rights responsibilities, prioritizing profits over lives and exacerbating global inequality.
  • Despite calls to prioritize and collaborate with the COVAX Facility, the companies have continued to stock up vaccine supplies for states known to be hoarding the vaccine, with Pfizer and BioNTech delivering nine times more vaccines to Sweden than to all low-income countries combined.
  • High prices mean the companies are set to earn over $130 billion by the end of 2022, with some companies like Moderna earning as much as $47 billion in revenues from vaccine sales.
  • AstraZeneca has delivered the most vaccines to lower-income countries, selling at cost price and issuing some voluntary licenses to other manufacturers, but still refusing to openly share its knowledge and technology with WHO initiatives.
  • Novavax has yet to be approved for use but plans to provide almost two-thirds of its production to supply COVAX, yet has also refused to share its knowledge and technology and has opposed the TRIPS Waiver.
  • The companies have monopolized intellectual property, blocked technology transfers, and lobbied aggressively against measures that would expand the global manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines, leading to human rights harms suffered by the billions of people still unable to access a lifesaving vaccine.
  • Amnesty International is calling on states and pharmaceutical companies to drastically change course and deliver 2 billion vaccines to low and lower-middle income countries by the end of the year.

Statistics:

  • 0.3% of the 5.76 billion doses administered worldwide have gone to low-income countries, with over 79% going to upper-middle and high-income countries.
  • The six companies assessed are set to earn over $130 billion by the end of 2022, with Pfizer and BioNTech projected to make a combined $130 billion.
  • Moderna is set to earn over $47 billion in revenues from vaccine sales by the end of 2022.
  • AstraZeneca has delivered over 100 million vaccine doses to low-income countries, while Pfizer and BioNTech have delivered less than 1% of their production to these countries.
  • Novavax has yet to be approved for use but plans to provide almost two-thirds of its production to supply COVAX.

Sources:

  • Amnesty International's report, "A Double Dose of Inequality: Pharma companies and the Covid-19 vaccines crisis"
  • Airfinity, a data science company, for vaccine distribution and production data
  • Our World In Data, for vaccination rates in different countries
  • World Health Organization, for target of vaccinating 40% of the population in low and lower-middle income countries by the end of the year