Egypt calls for equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines

‘Countries that can produce Covid-19 vaccines should be offered support by exempting them from obligations stipulated in agreements on intellectual property rights.’

Egypt called for greater international co-operation in containing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and making vaccines available to developing countries.

Addressing a high-level meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council virtually Saturday, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the international community has so far failed in distributing Covid-19 vaccines equitably among nations.

He added that some countries prioritised their interests over the need to make fair distribution of the vaccines.

Minister Shoukry cited export restrictions on vaccine-making companies by the governments of their countries.

This is creating a situation where rich nations are getting most of the vaccine doses manufactured so far, leaving nothing for others, the foreign minister said.

He blamed this situation for the failure of the international community to get over the Covid-19 pandemic until the present.

The Egyptian foreign minister called for maintaining financial support to world bodies struggling to make the vaccines available.

He underscored the importance of offering help to developing countries that can manufacture the vaccines locally.

He suggested absolving these countries of obligations included in international agreements on intellectual property rights. He also called for aiding Africa get its needs in this regard.

The minister’s participation in the meeting came as part of the continued efforts by Egypt in international forums to ensure a fair access to Covid-19 vaccines, especially for developing 
and African countries, the Foreign Ministry said in 
a statement.

Egypt was among a group of countries that proposed recently a United Nations declaration on equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.

Around 180 states backed the proposed declaration and called for action to ensure that the vaccines and their manufacturing technologies are made available for developing countries at affordable prices.