Access the link here and here for more information.

Which countries are on track to reach global COVID-19 vaccination targets? – Edouard Mathieu via Our World in Data COVID-19

Access the link here for more information.

Links to global protest action: 

• https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/whitehall-british-government-coffins-campaigners-gordon-brown-b959961.html
• https://twitter.com/JustTreatment/status/1447963361925386251
• https://twitter.com/STOPAIDS/status/1447984110916485135
• US trade ambassador Kathrine Tai met with the EU ambassador to the WTO and the South Africa Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. 
• https://twitter.com/EUAmbWTO/status/1448402092457082881
• https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2021/october/readout-ambassador-katherine-tais-meeting-south-africa-minister-trade-industry-and-competition

The HuffPost obtained a copy of the draft text that the EU’s directorate-general for trade shared with at least one WTO member nation with whom it is negotiating. The core of the proposal, which follows a framework outlined by the EU in June, is to reiterate WTO procedures agreed to in 2001 for compelling companies to license the patents on their drugs in a public health emergency. The proposal was heavily criticized:  

Access the link here for more information. 

Webinar recording on “Greed”

The South African government failed to meet a deadline for the disclosure of all vaccine contracts pursuant to an appeal lodged by the HJI using the access to information act. It also failed to disclose all relevant expert advice and information related to the prioritization of cohorts of people in the national vaccine roll out. As a result, the HJI will be approaching a court of law to compel the disclosure.  

Access the link here for more information. 

“This unacceptable cutback makes a catastrophic situation even worse. Since the start of the pandemic, only 0.7 % of all manufactured vaccine doses have gone to low-income countries.” 

“To achieve equity, intellectual property (IP) relating to COVID-19 vaccines should be temporarily waived to bolster their production. Waiving IP rights and sharing knowledge will allow middle- and low-income countries to produce their own vaccines rather than rely on donations and COVAX.” 

The Financial Times reported that poorer countries relying on COVAX received ‘over 16 times less’ vaccines than wealthy nations. Access the link here for more information. 

Access the link here for more information. 

The way forward on and beyond the TRIPS waiver proposal: Recording: https://youtu.be/j3uQK-sdB4Y

Access the link here for more information.

            The People’s Vaccine Alliance responded to the announcement: “After huge public pressure, BioNTech has finally committed to manufacturing vaccines in the global south. While this is a positive development, it’s far too little, far too late from a company that has made a killing from the pandemic.” 

Access the link here for more information.

While it is the first fully transparent voluntary license covering a COVID-19 medical tool on a royalty-free basis, Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) stated that it was ‘disappointed with the limitations of the license, as well as a harmful provision that undermines the right of generic companies that sign the license to challenge patents to facilitate generic drug production’.

Access the link here for more information.

US Group Public Citizen commented on the announcement that:  

“…it could support the World Health Organization and African vaccine manufacturers’ effort to build the world’s first mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa, which would be open to manufacturers worldwide and share know-how with humanity…”.

Access the link here for more information.

Total Number of Vaccines Administered in South Africa: 22 381 951  

Total number of people fully vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson vaccine:  4 767 627  

Total number of people fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine: 17 117 370  

Number of people who received 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine: 15 239 094  

Global statistics at the end of October 2021 

More than 3.9 billion people worldwide received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine (49% of the world’s population). Only 3.6% of people in low-income have received at least one dose.

Access the link here for more information.

Total number of people fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine (Dose 1 and Dose 2):  

7 052 854 

This was accompanied by a parliamentary petition in Canada, led by the Council of Canadians and Canadian MP Niki Ashton. Access the link here for more information.

Johnson & Johnson announced that it entered into an agreement to provide vaccines to COVAXs Humanitarian Buffer. However, at the same time, COVAX has indicated that vaccine manufacturers are refusing to waive indemnification provisions preventing the delivery of vaccines to communities requiring humanitarian assistance (refugees mainly).  

• https://www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-enters-into-agreement-to-provide-its-single-shot-covid-19-vaccine-for-the-worlds-most-vulnerable-people-through-novel-humanitarian-buffer 

• Ref: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/gavi-and-humanitarian-agencies-partner-deliver-covid-19-vaccines-most-vulnerable-people 

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) submitted an ‘open letter’ to the National Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla calling for the right of health care workers to ‘choose their preferred vaccine booster’ and directed a number of questions to the Minister regarding the vaccine booster roll-out study for health care workers. 

Ref: 

• https://www.samedical.org/cmsuploader/viewArticle/1938 

• Access the link here and here for more information.

The South African College of Medicine also issued a letter indicating that:  

1. The majority of health workers in South Africa have received the J&J vaccine as that was the only option available to them at the time. There is evidence that the one-dose J&J regimen has lower efficacy that the two-dose mRNA regimens. The CDC currently recommends that “People who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and are 18 years and older should receive a booster shot at least 2 months after receiving their primary vaccine dose”. Without a booster of any kind, our health workers who received the J&J vaccine are less than optimally protected.  

1. There is evidence that immunity wanes and breakthrough infections increase over time with all of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines. This further highlights the need for a booster for South Africa’s health workforce given the time that has elapsed since the majority of health workers received the J&J vaccine as part of the Sisonke Study.  

1. While both homologous and heterologous boosters have been shown to increase binding and neutralising antibody titres, there is some evidence that mRNA booster produces substantially higher binding and neutralising antibody titres than a second dose of J&J vaccine in those who received a primary J&J vaccine. We acknowledge though that the data supporting heterologous boosters is currently limited but encouraging nonetheless.  

1. There are anecdotal reports that large numbers of health workers intend to sit out the Sisonke booster programme and wait for a Pfizer booster to become available to them in South Africa. While they wait for that to happen, they remain less than optimally protected. In our view, they should be provided with an alternative as soon as possible in order to achieve high booster vaccine coverage among this population quickly, and ahead of a potential fourth wave.  

1. There are reports of significant levels of Pfizer wastage at vaccine sites which could provide an avenue for NDoH to provide health workers with the Pfizer option. 

1. Both homologous and heterologous boosters have a potential role to play in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic going forward and this should be borne in mind in order to avoid further vaccine hesitancy.  

‘to accelerate efforts to end the pandemic around the world’. The letter stated that Moderna’s vaccine has ‘so far almost exclusively been supplied to wealthy countries, while low-and middle-income countries are left without, or with long waits and high prices.’ 

The resolution of this dispute will have an impact on the first WHO mRNA Hub established in South Africa too.

Important Note:  

Subsequently, it emerged that the variant was circulating in Europe for at least about a week before:  

Access the link here and here for more information.

In response to the announcement, flights from several Southern African countries are banned from entering the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, US, UAE, Canada and several other European countries, affecting all travel regionally and globally. The selective travel bans were immediately met with condemnation from the South African government, scientists and activists in South Africa, the region and abroad as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO).  

• https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-26-uks-knee-jerk-red-list-temporary-ban-throws-south-african-travellers-tourism-industry-and-airlines-into-a-muddle/ 
• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59424269 

• http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/2021/uk1126.htm 
• https://www.democracynow.org/2021/11/29/headlines/south_africa_blasts_travel_bans_as_countries_race_to_curb_spread_of_omicron_variant 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR3eLw5CdMU 
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/07/omicron-covid-variant-is-already-everywhere-who-says 
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59432579 

–The HJI’s response to the travel ban was set out in an op ed for Al Jazeera- available here. 

–The HJI’s conversation with NPR – All Things Considered – about the travel bans and vaccine apartheid is available here. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) shortly thereafter also designated the variant as a ‘variant of concern’, named Omicron:  

• Ref: https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern 

BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson were reported to have ‘started working on vaccines that specifically target Omicron in case their existing shots are not effective against the new coronavirus variant’ 

• https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/moderna-can-take-months-ship-omicron-specific-vaccine-ceo-says-cnbc-2021-11-29/ 
• https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-29/biontech-is-working-on-an-omicron-version-of-its-covid-shot?utm_source=Airfinity&utm_campaign=d6238a5789-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_11_30_12_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_41a531e556-d6238a5789-464791401 

Omicron and the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference:  

The 12th MC was postponed indefinitely due to the new variant and also travel restrictions. Globally, activists continued to call for an urgent resolution and passing of the TRIPS Waiver:  

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-26/wto-poised-to-postpone-ministerial-meeting-over-virus-concerns 

https://twitter.com/peoplesvaccine/status/1465650420899094529 

https://www.twn.my/title2/intellectual_property/info.service/2021/ip211108.htm 

Also:  

200 million workers called for a TRIPS Waiver : https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/global-unions-join-biden-eu-parliament-in-call-urgent-waiver-vaccine-patents-tackle-dangerous  and https://twitter.com/PSIglobalunion/status/1465312458575392775   

https://ourworldisnotforsale.net/MC12 

1. Norway changed its stance on the TRIPS WAIVER by indicating support: https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/i/66V8z3/norge-snur-vil-la-vaksine-oppskriftene-deles-med-fattige-land 

1. France, which had earlier been a partial supporter, instead aligned itself with the counter-proposal of the European Commission 

1. The US President indicated renewed US support for a Covid-19 ‘vaccine waiver’, but media reports indicated otherwise – stating that ‘Documents Reveal Biden Admin Not Fighting for a Covid Vaccine Patent Waiver, Despite Public Statements’:  

https://inthesetimes.com/article/biden-omicron-wto-trips-waiver-intellectual-property-patents 

1. In Canada, the Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party called on the Prime Minister to take a position on the TRIPS waiver so that more countries can produce vaccines locally.  

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) also expressed concerns about the damage caused by ‘travel restrictions’ to families, businesses, and the travel and tourism industries.

South African scientists, health experts, civil society groups and others, also condemned the restrictions as ‘racist’ in its selective scope.

• Ref: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/2021/covid-19_1127.htm
• Ref screenshots:

Info received from @ukinsouthafrica.
- @British_Airways will resume direct flights to #SouthAfrica from Tuesday (30 Nov) with the 1st flight to London on W/day. It'll be 1 daily flight to Cape Town & ORTIA.
- Virgin flies 3 times a week into ORTIA. They haven't stopped theirs.

— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) November 28, 2021

This could provide Aspen the rights to: 

• ‘Manufacture a finished SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 vaccine product,’ but from ‘COVID-19 drug substance supplied by Johnson & Johnson’; and 
• ‘Sell the finished form vaccine, to be launched and branded as “Aspenovax”, to public sector markets in Africa…’ 

Access the link here and here for more information.

Omicron risk has caused 68 countries to impose travel bans, affecting 40.4% of the world’s population. Airfinity reported that:  

‘Several countries have imposed travel restrictions since 26th November 2021. The EU countries have largely imposed a travel ban from the 6 African countries; Switzerland and Greenland allow travel for vaccinated or fully recovered passengers. Morocco and Japan have taken strong measures by imposing a complete travel ban from all countries. With 32% of the world’s countries imposing a travel ban for all 6 African countries listed, 40.4% of the world’s population is affected’ 

End November 2021:  National Vaccine Roll-Out Status:  

Total Number of Vaccines Administered in South Africa: 25 619 891  

Total number of people fully vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson vaccine including Sisonke Trial 1:   

6 116 065 

Total number of HCWs who received a second dose of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine under Sisonke Trial 2: 154 030 

Total number of people fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine (Does 1 and Dose 2):  

8 358 689  

Number of people who received 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine: 17 106 172  

Access the link here and here for more information.

Global statistics at the end of November 2021 

More than 4.2 billion people worldwide received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine (54.4% of the world’s population). But, of this, only 6% of people in low-income countries received at least one dose.  

Access the link here for more information. 

The Financial Times spoke to ‘‘more than 60 people involved in the vaccine process, including current and former Pfizer employees and government officials across the globe, to lift the veil on how the company that has contributed so much to saving the world from Covid has also ensured it is such a lucrative business. They are all grateful for a safe and effective vaccine. But many question if the balance of power has tipped too far in Pfizer’s favour’. 

Ref: Nursing unions around the world called for UN action on Covid vaccine patents 

Access the link here for more information.

• Germany, UK, US, Norway and Switzerland face legal review of their actions –domestically- in “prolonging the pandemic”. 

Access the link here for more information. 

• There has been a steep increase in Covid-19 cases observed in Tshwane spreading into the rest of Gauteng, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng due to newly discovered Covid-19 variant, Omicron.
• They expressed disappointment at countries that imposed travel bans for Southern African countries following the discovery of Omicron.  

All South African provinces entered the 4^th wave of Covid-19 and the Gauteng province reported the highest number of new cases per day. 

• Johnson & Johnson (second shot): for anyone who received their first dose of J&J at least 2 months prior
• Pfizer (third shot): for anyone who received their second dose of Pfizer at least 6 months prior, commencing with those over 18 years old. 

Note: The department did not address the issue of heterologous boosters (in other words, for example, using a Pfizer second shot for someone who received a J&J first shot).