Read on Twitter
Colleagues in #science – thank you for your efforts in developing life-saving technologies/knowledge. Though many of our innovations depend on patents to move from bench to society, this crisis demands YOUR advocacy for global access to #COVID19 vaccines.
Here’s why: 1/n
Here’s why: 1/n
I started advocating with @R2HAction when my grandmother died of COVID19, after 19 agonizing days in a crowded hospital in India. I love her 
She raised me. This is painful
Her isolation in her last moments continues to haunt us. I share my story: 2/n https://www.r2haction.org/vaccine-crisis-accelerating
She raised me. This is painful Her isolation in her last moments continues to haunt us. I share my story: 2/n https://www.r2haction.org/vaccine-crisis-accelerating
Today I got my 1st #COVID19 dose. I’m grateful for this, but also disturbed that my privilege will not reach my 89 yo grandfather in India until 2024 with current manufacturing even though he is still at high-risk. I don’t feel safe until all my ppl are safe. 3/n
South Africa & India pushed for a temporary ban on #COVID19 patents to allow poor countries to have access to life-saving vaccines. They were denied: “There is no evidence that IP rights…hamper access to COVID-19…technologies.” <-- THIS IS FALSE 4/n https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32581-2/fulltext
It is unbearable to think that some lives matter less than others. I refuse to accept that. Even if COVAX works, it will only be able to buy 20% of the needed vaccines. Whereas we all know herd immunity is >70%. This is insufficient and will not end the #COVID19 pandemic. 5/n
The hurdle of IP rights is unethical right now. The pandemic will not be over anywhere until the virus is stopped everywhere. RNA viruses can escape. In fact, S. Africa already halted the AstraZeneca vaccine due to ineffectiveness against new variants 6/n https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/07/world/africa/covid-vaccine-astrazeneca-south-africa.html
Fauci says: "Rich countries have a moral responsibility…to provide for countries who don't have the resources... [We should supplement] their…productive capability to manufacture vaccines, with cooperation from the pharmaceutical companies for relaxation of their patents." 7/n
I request you to: 1) please use your power to advocate for relaxing patents & sharing vaccine technologies with global manufacturers. Feel free to DM me. 2) You can also contribute much needed $$ to our #100Kin100days campaign: https://www.r2haction.org/donate 8/n
. @R2HAction is made of all-volunteer scholars, health care workers, scientists, and medicines/HIV activists who are working over-time, after jobs, to advocate for better policies to protect us all from this and future pandemic. Your voice matters in addition to your #science! 9/n
As we honor #BlackHistoryMonth 
I want to say that I feel a pressing understanding to this quote from Dr Martin Luther King Jr in relation to our battle with #COVID19 - “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” 10/n
I want to say that I feel a pressing understanding to this quote from Dr Martin Luther King Jr in relation to our battle with #COVID19 - “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” 10/n
Thank you to @stephanielangel @helen_web @Abbyleinroth for contributing $$ and/or time to end this pandemic here and globally. Tagging other advocates for #science and #publichealth @SalliePermar @GYamey @drJoshS - thank you for teaching me to speak up - I see you!
Tagging more scientists/ advocates so you can have this info handy: @DrPacoRG @DoctorLix @ari_eily @hannah_rickman @EktaPaw @DrNiranjani @cgiuberti @cam_schill @ScienceEsme @heyitsjenjenks @eleanor_semmes @_J_Roche_ @victorroy @KoenVanRompay @ruiz_cientifica @angelicalohdz
