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<p>The UK is committed to help bring the acute phase of the pandemic to an end as
soon as possible and strongly supports the COVAX Facility as a key mechanism to deliver
this. The majority of the UK's doses are being donated via COVAX. We are donating
a smaller quantity to bilateral partners and countries facing their own health emergencies,
to further support the global response to Covid-19. We are only donating vaccines
to countries which are eligible for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). The FCDO
has responded to the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) which includes a breakdown of
where doses have been sent to as of the end of November.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout
the pandemic our top priority has been to save lives. We firmly believe the best way
to do this is to support the world's leading scientists to develop our most important
weapon in the fight against COVID-19: vaccines. Our robust international intellectual
property framework protects the ability of these pioneering minds to come up with
new ideas and innovations. It has and will continue to allow us to develop vaccines
and treatments at unprecedented pace and meet our ultimate goal of saving lives. There
is no evidence that an IP waiver would help us to meet this goal. The reality is that
the proposal for a TRIPS waiver would dismantle the very framework that helped to
produce COVID-19 vaccines at an unprecedented pace. More worryingly, the waiver proposal
could lead to a dangerous reduction in the quality of products being manufactured
and in the already limited supply of key raw materials. This risks compromising vaccine
efficacy and patient safety.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the UK Government has not seen evidence
that Intellectual Property is a barrier to the production or supply of COVID-19 goods,
including vaccines, the Government will continue to engage constructively in debates
at the World Trade Organisation Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
Council and other international institutions to promote affordable and equitable global
access to COVID-19 vaccines for all. The UK affirmed this commitment in the 22 October
G7 Trade Ministers' communique, which notes our determination to achieve an impactful
outcome on trade and health, including how the international Intellectual Property
framework can best support the WTO's pandemic response. The UK remains open to all
initiatives that will have a demonstrable impact on vaccine production and distribution.
We will continue to engage constructively in discussions at the WTO to that end. To
end this pandemic sooner, we must focus efforts on the things that will make a real
difference. That includes the promotion of voluntary licensing and technology transfer
agreements - several of which have already proven to be successful.</p>
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