article thumbnail

COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Infringement? The Battle Between Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech Continues

Bill of Health

In 2005, they published their research and insights in a series of research papers and also filed a patent application disclosing this modification (which eventually issued as patent no. government committed more than one billion dollars to Moderna for development of its COVID-19 vaccines. Indeed, as made public, the U.S.

article thumbnail

The Case for Procurement Transparency

Bill of Health

By Tara Davis and Nicola Soekoe In January 2021, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) observed that the world was on the brink of a “catastrophic moral failure” if wealthier nations did not ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Impact of the judgment: what have records disclosed shown?

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Judging in the Pandemic – A Malawian Perspective

Bill of Health

Nyirenda case: mandatory vaccinations and human rights Both judgments in Khatumba were delivered and decided before effective COVID-19 vaccines were yet available in Malawi or worldwide.

COVID-19 308
article thumbnail

Accessing COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines for Research: The Re-emergence of the Tragedy of the ‘Anticommons’

Bill of Health

Some COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers in the US have refused to share vaccine samples for research purposes , creating an access issue with the potential to delay comparator studies, follow-on research, and new vaccine / drug development. By Aparajita Lath. This problem is not new in the biotechnology sector.

COVID-19 174
article thumbnail

Human Rights Principles in Public Health Emergencies: From the Siracusa Principles to COVID-19 and Beyond

Bill of Health

Towards accountability for human rights violations in public health emergencies First and foremost, the two legally binding instruments that the World Health Assembly is expected to adopt next May, a pandemic treaty and a revised International Health Regulations (2005) , should incorporate the Principles.

COVID-19 290
article thumbnail

Introduction to the Symposium: From Principles to Practice: Human Rights and Public Health Emergencies

Bill of Health

Despite more than a century-long existence, for instance, the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) International Health Regulations only began to incorporate references to human rights in their text as recently as their 2005 iteration and even then engaged with the subject matter in broad strokes.

article thumbnail

Conclusion to the Symposium: From Principles to Practice: Human Rights and Public Health Emergencies

Bill of Health

Judge Zione Ntaba’s contribution highlights how courts in Malawi decided cases relating to the Government’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic , including, in particular, the provision of social security measures in parallel with lockdown measures, and the policy proposals relating to mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.