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A demonstrator in Berlin calls for the global release of vaccine patents
Photo: Swen Pförtner / imago images / spfimages
The pharmaceutical companies make billions with their corona vaccines, but according to aid organizations, patent protection has so far prevented an even larger production of the vaccines, which are still scarce worldwide.
The USA have proposed to suspend the patents in an exemption.
But now the federal government has criticized the move from Washington - and emphasized the need for patent protection.
"The protection of intellectual property is a source of innovation and must remain so in the future," said a government spokeswoman in Berlin.
The US proposal for a revocation of patent protection for Covid-19 vaccines has "significant implications for vaccine production as a whole".
So far, a suspension of patents had been rejected by the industrialized nations in which numerous large pharmaceutical companies are based.
However, the US government signaled on Wednesday that it would lobby the World Trade Organization (WTO) for an exemption.
More than 100 member countries have already spoken out in favor of the project initiated by South Africa and India.
Federal government refers to Covax initiative
In view of the shortage of vaccines in many countries, the WHO chief had been pleading for such a patent waiver for months. Numerous non-governmental organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, had previously vehemently called for the patents to be suspended. Developing and emerging countries also support the measure. This means that production can be expanded worldwide and vaccines can be made more accessible to poorer countries.
"The limiting factor in the manufacture of vaccines are the production capacities and the high quality standards, not the patents," the federal government said.
"We are working in many ways on how we can improve production capacities within Germany and within the European Union, but also worldwide." The companies concerned are also doing this with great commitment.
The federal government stands behind the goal of a worldwide supply of Covid-19 vaccines, emphasized the government spokeswoman at the same time.
For example, Germany supported the Covax initiative with around one billion euros with the aim of ensuring that as many people in the world as possible had access to vaccines.
mrc / AFP / Reuters
