WASHINGTON — The ONE Campaign released the following statement on the news that the United States will support waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines.

Tom Hart, Acting President and CEO of The ONE Campaign said:

“We need governments and industry to use every tool in their toolbox to dismantle the barriers that delay truly global access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and medicines. The TRIPS waiver is one such tool and today’s announcement by the Biden administration is welcome news.  A temporary waiver could create the right conditions to increase supply to COVID-19 countermeasures in the medium-term, alongside voluntary licensing and technology transfers. As TRIPS negotiations continue, urgent action is still needed to meet the immediate need for vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments around the world.

“We look forward to the Biden administration’s plan to share all 550 million surplus doses in 2021, and implement it as soon as possible. We also hope the ongoing negotiations kick off a broader discussion and agreement on new rules enabling the world to swiftly produce and deploy vaccines and therapeutics in declared pandemics and epidemics.”