Support Rejection of COVID-19 Vaccine Patents, Pope Francis: The World Is Infected With The Virus Of Individualism

Pope Francis. (Wikimedia Commons/Aleteia Image Department)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis supports waiving the patent rights or intellectual rights of the COVID-19 vaccine, supporting a proposal put forward by United States President Joe Biden, which was rejected by a number of European countries, such as Germany.

In a speech recorded on video and played at a global fundraising concert to promote equitable access to vaccines, the Pope said the world is infected with a 'virus of individualism'.

"The variant of this virus is closed nationalism, which prevents, for example, vaccine internationalism," Pope Francis said.

"Another variant is when we place the laws of the market or intellectual market or intellectual property above the laws of love and health for mankind," he added, considering the many casualties caused by the coronavirus in the world.

Pope Francis' remarks come amid the debate regarding the intellectual property rights of the COVID-19 vaccine, where a waiver of patents is required amid the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As previously reported, United States President Joe Biden expressed his support behind the waiver of intellectual property rights or patents for the COVID-19 vaccine. The move, which is backed by more than 100 countries, but angers pharmaceutical companies.  

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, praised United States President Joe Biden's move to support the temporary abandonment of the COVID-19 vaccine patent.

In his post on Twitter, Tedros cited the United States' move under President Biden as a strong example of overcoming global health challenges. A mirror of the wisdom and moral leadership of the United States.

However, many European countries, led by Germany and France, distanced themselves on Friday from the suggestion, arguing that the key reason for ending the COVID-19 pandemic is making and sharing vaccines faster.