I have tentatively supported patent sharing. But I also admit that many factors—including who would be able to make the vaccines—isn’t clear to me. HOWEVER.... https://twitter.com/peterkolchinsky/status/1390681008878534660

The Chinese Sinopharm vaccine has had some serious problems. Chile, Seychelles, and probably other nations who have used it have seen cases skyrocket after mass vaccination; one might then conclude that it’s not as effective as advertised. I wonder too about the Russian vaccine.

I understand and accept the point this fellow’s making. But not every country is as connected to the West-centered market.

And then there are vaccination rates in developed countries. Germans have every right to complain about how long they’re having to wait. In their case, the market would seem to be delaying the rollout. (Is there any other reason they’re not at UK or at least US levels?)

And Japan has less than 1 percent of their population vaccinated! Are they really incapable of making and distributing a vaccine? Get real.

So I admit there’s a lot here I don’t know. This thread has me rethinking my position, and I’m less sure of Biden’s move than I was. But there’s still a lot here that’s been left unaddressed.