Global South countries, led by South Africa and India, have requested a suspension of the WTO's patent rules to enable them to manufacture or import affordable generic versions of the COVID-19 vaccine. Shockingly, Britain and other rich countries have refused.

This decision could be a death sentence to hundreds of thousands of people. All to enable pharma corporations to profiteer, in the middle of a pandemic, from vaccines that have been developed overwhelmingly with public funds.

Here is a report on the initial proposal: https://www.keionline.org/34235 

And here is Britain's frankly condescending response: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-statement-to-the-trips-council-item-15

Here's a report from Reuters ("Wealthy countries block COVID-19 drugs rights waiver at WTO"): https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-wto/wealthy-countries-block-covid-19-drugs-rights-waiver-at-wto-sources-idUKKBN28020X

And here from The Lancet ("South Africa and India push for COVID-19 patents ban"): https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32581-2/fulltext

Some people seem to be concerned about my use of the adverb "shockingly". To clarify, I use it here as: "in a way that causes indignation, horror, or disgust", and "in a way that is offensive, upsetting, or immoral"; rather than as "surprisingly".

Colonialist behavior by colonial powers is immoral and appalling, and should be referred to as such, even if - and perhaps particularly when - it is not surprising.

For those interested in the adverb:
- https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/shockingly
- https://www.lexico.com/definition/shockingly
- https://oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/shockingly

And for those interested in the issue:

Here's a campaign for a people's vaccine: https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/coronavirus-and-global-justice

And here's a story about how some MPs have joined in calling on the UK govt to suspend patent rules: https://www.thenational.scot/news/18931482.40-msps-urge-westminster-back-action-vaccine-costs-poorer-countries/

If you're interested in how this played out with AIDS drugs a couple of decades ago, I highly recommend the film Fire in the Blood (available on Netflix). It will leave you quivering with rage.