Facing the reality that control of COVID in industrialized nations will depend on a high level of immunity among residents of developing nations, the EU and the U.S. are considering waiving intellectual property restrictions on the manufacture of vaccines.  India and South Africa have requested waivers in order to produce effective vaccines for domestic use.

U.S. Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, will support the principle to be reviewed by the World Trade Organization. The proposal is opposed by pharmaceutical companies who fear the loss of their intellectual property, most of which was developed with public funding. Current developers of vaccines maintain that waiving restrictions will not lead to increased production.  This is based on a shortage of raw materials and the absence of sophisticated manufacturing and packaging installations in the nations that are requesting royalty-free guidance on producing vaccines.