The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating effect in countries already affected by development challenges and humanitarian crises, and it is hitting the hardest hit are the furthest behind, those who have no prospect of getting a first vaccine dose anytime soon.

This global emergency can be addressed only if an affordable and effective COVID-19 vaccine is made available in every corner of the world. Protecting people everywhere must be underpinned by political will and a clear moral decision: prioritising lives over profit and suspending intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccine production. This is why we call the European Union to support the temporary, emergency COVID-19 WTO waiver of certain intellectual property Trade-Related Intellectual Prioperty Rights (TRIPS) provisions.

To push for the EU to do everything in its power, including the patent waiver, to contribute to ending this public health emergency, Caritas Europa, together with nine faith-based organisations and networks from Europe and Africa, submitted a letter in early July to Commission President von der Leyen, EEAS High Representative Josep Borrell, Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen and EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides. The letter urged the Commission to prevent intellectual property rules from unnecessarily costing human lives. This is in line with the European Parliament’s position and the position of many of the world’s poorer nations, all of which want the COVID-19 vaccines, which are fundamentally a social product, to benefit everyone, especially the furthest behind.