- Vaccine access is critical for developing global immunity against COVID-19, but low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are currently facing significant barriers to access.
- Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are a crucial obstacle for global vaccine access.
- Rather than making vaccines freely available, IPRs prioritise industry profits over human health and well-being.
- A global movement to waive the IPRs of COVID-19 vaccines is gaining traction, but rich countries at the World Trade Organization are opposing it.