Vials containing the Janssen Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.
Johnson & Johnson via Reuters
The White House is considering removing intellectual property protection from Covid-19 vaccines.
The move would allow other countries to replicate existing vaccines. The USA has so far approved three recordings: one from the American company Pfizer and Germany-based BioNTech, one from the US company Moderna and the third from the American company Johnson & Johnson.
Concern has grown over the US and a handful of other wealthy countries who have rights to a disproportionate share of the world’s vaccine supply while other nations struggle to vaccinate their people.
House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi wrote to the White House supporting the move. The developing countries have also asked the World Trade Organization to provide the intellectual property.
Nearly 19% of American adults and about 15% of the total US population are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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