Doctors for America Supports Waiver on COVID-19 Vaccine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box 53313
1921 Florida Ave NW
Washington, DC  20009-9997

Contact: Candy Tai, Digital Communications Strategist
Doctors For America
[email protected]
(913) 276-4696 (cell)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 6, 2021.  Doctors for America applauds yesterday’s announcement by the Biden-Harris administration in support of waiving intellectual property protections on COVID-19 vaccines. This announcement is a promising first step towards containing the global pandemic, and demonstrates the administration’s commitment to putting patients above politics.

“As physicians on the frontlines of this pandemic, our members have witnessed the devastation of COVID-19 firsthand. This unprecedented pandemic has brought into sharp focus the fault lines and disparities within global health that prevent many in need from receiving appropriate care. This is an important first, but not only, step in addressing these inequities. Ensuring access to vaccines globally is a priority that we must continue to fight for. Ending the COVID-19 pandemic in America cannot be achieved without addressing it globally.” said Dr. Krishnan Narasimhan, President and Board Chair of Doctors for America.

As negotiations continue, Doctors for America urges the Biden administration to ensure the process is transparent. As the technology for these vaccines has been largely subsidized by taxpayers, it must be shared with manufacturers worldwide to help ramp up global production. Additionally, money already allocated from the COVID-19 relief packages that has not yet been used, amounting to roughly $16 billion, should be used to enhance manufacturing capacity to ensure that the foothold we are finally gaining against this deadly pandemic holds and strengthens.

For more information about Doctors for America, contact our Digital Communications Strategist, Candy Tai, at [email protected].

About Doctors for America

Doctors for America mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. We are 20,000 physicians and medical students in all 50 states in representing all areas of specialization. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity.  Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on Twitter @drsforamerica.

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