COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 jabs, South Africa, World Trade Organization, WTO, Minister of Trade Ebrahim Patel, India, NGOs

SA seems excited about the patent waiver but commercialisation may pose difficulty. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

SA praises WTO agreement for development of own COVID-19 vaccines

After a two-year-long battle, South Africa has obtained an agreement with the WTO to produce its own COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 jabs, South Africa, World Trade Organization, WTO, Minister of Trade Ebrahim Patel, India, NGOs

SA seems excited about the patent waiver but commercialisation may pose difficulty. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

A World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement has been obtained by South Africa after a demanding two-year-long battle. The agreement permits developing countries to begin producing their own COVID-19 vaccines. 

An agreement has been secured on the vaccines

In light of the newly found agreement, Minister of Trade Ebrahim Patel stated:

“We secured an agreement. It was a strongly-fought agreement.” 

Patel along with India and NGOs were pushing for an intellectual property rights waiver on COVID-related treatments.

India and SA wanted less stringent intellectual property restrictions

The WTO met these requests and on Wednesday, 15 June, confirmed a lessening of intellectual property restrictions on vaccines. 

During the intense talks leading up to this final outcome both South Africa and India openly expressed their demands for less stringent intellectual property restrictions on vaccines. The agreement was finalised with the help of the United States and China. 

Reports by the WTO revealed that although 60 % of the world’s population has obtained two doses of the anti-Covid vaccine, clear signs of inequality can be observed. 17% of those residing in Libya have received the vaccine. These figures become even worse with only 8% being vaccinated in Nigeria and 5% in Cameroon. 

While it is a step forward, commercialisation could pose a challenge

In a statement, the South African Government commended a waiver constructed to permit local vaccine manufacturers to produce either vaccines, ingredients or elements that are under patents, without the authority of the patent holder. Even with the limit of five years, South Africa commended this as a reasonable step forward. 

ECR reports that commercialisation in Africa will pose a challenge. In November 2021, Aspen landed a deal with Johnson & Johnson to manufacture a made-in Africa for Africa Aspen-branded COVID-19 vaccine called Aspenovax.

Last month, Aspen said it could pull the plug due to the lack of orders received.

Western Cape Govt pushes for removal of COVID-19 restrictions

In related news, it was previously reported that the provincial government in the Western Cape wants all COVID-19 restrictions in SA to be lifted. They cited growing economic concerns across Mzansi as the reasoning behind their push for this. 

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and representatives from the province’s health department are expected to give a press briefing on Tuesday, 7 June. The briefing will show data that the COVID-19 restrictions in SA is not necessary anymore.

Winde has also written to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Read the full story here.