Pharmaceutical Companies Failing to Meet Human Rights Responsibilities Amidst Global Vaccine Crisis

Strategic Insights -

Amnesty International released a major report in September, highlighting the egregious failure of six major pharmaceutical companies - AstraZeneca, BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer - in meeting their human rights responsibilities in the midst of the global COVID-19 vaccine crisis. The report, "A Double Dose of Inequality: Pharma companies and the Covid-19 vaccines crisis", emphasizes the companies' refusal to share vaccine technology, as well as their prioritization of profits over lives.

Key Takeaways:

  • The six pharmaceutical companies have failed to meet their human rights responsibilities, including sharing vaccine technology and prioritizing deliveries to low-income countries.
  • Despite calls to collaborate with COVAX, the companies have instead continued to top up vaccine supplies for wealthy countries.
  • A minuscule 0.3% of the 5.76 billion vaccine doses administered worldwide have gone to low-income countries, while almost 80% have been delivered to upper-middle and high-income countries.
  • Some of the companies have refused to grant licenses to manufacturers in low-income countries, further exacerbating the crisis.
  • High prices and prioritization of profits have led to massive revenue for the pharmaceutical companies - $86 billion for Pfizer and BioNTech, $47 billion for Moderna.
  • The companies have opposed proposals to temporarily lift intellectual property rights, such as the World Trade Organisation's TRIPS Waiver proposed by India and South Africa.

Statistics:

  • 0.3% of the 5.76 billion vaccine doses administered worldwide have gone to low-income countries.
  • 80% of vaccine doses have been delivered to upper-middle and high-income countries.
  • 9 times more vaccines have been delivered to Sweden than to all low-income countries combined by Pfizer and BioNTech.
  • $86 billion revenue by the end of next year for Pfizer and BioNTech.
  • $47 billion revenue by the end of 2022 for Moderna.
  • 100 days until the end of 2021.

Sources:

  • Amnesty International report "A Double Dose of Inequality: Pharma companies and the Covid-19 vaccines crisis" (https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/09/pharma-companies-have-failed-to-meet-their-human-rights-responsibilities-amidst-global-vaccine-crisis)
  • World Health Organisation (WHO)
  • UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • AstraZeneca plc
  • BioNTech SE
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Moderna
  • Novavax
  • Pfizer