WTO's vaccine patent waiver may have little impact on ground now: Industry

Serum Institute says while patent waivers for Covid-19 vaccines are 'encouraging', demand for vaccines today is declining

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) green light for a politically-significant deal of a patent waiver for manufacturing Covid vaccines may have little impact in boosting vaccine production immediately or getting new technologies for manufacture, according to experts.

Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal said the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Trips) decision will boost vaccine equity, accessibility and affordability. “It will enable ease of authorisation for production of patented vaccines and India can produce for domestic requirements and exports,” he said.

The minister said a country can authorise production of vaccines patented elsewhere and no consent is required. Also,