No surprise there. You'd think the common need to end a global pandemic would overcome the chase for profits. I guess no. >> Snake eating itself << or something to that end.
'FROM early in the pandemic, there have been sustained calls for the World Trade Organization’s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) council to approve a blanket waiver on intellectual property and trade secrets related to the production of vaccines and therapeutics developed against COVID-19. In early May the Biden administration appeared to acknowledge these demands, releasing a statement that the U.S. would begin working with member nations to draft final text on waivers related specifically to vaccines, excluding other essential pharmaceutical products like monoclonal antibody therapies. This apparent policy shift from the Biden administration was met in some circles with uncritical adulation. Some months on, however, we are no closer to an end to the ongoing vaccine apartheid. Political pressure from within the United States has been significantly reduced since this endorsement of a “narrow waiver,” leading some to focus instead on securing the reluctant endorsement of countries like Germany that remain opposed.'