I am really conflicted on this one. Reasons to support IP rights - there needs to be an incentive to get a reliable vaccine out of the door. If the pharma comp

I am really conflicted on this one. Reasons to support IP rights - there needs to be an incentive to get a reliable vaccine out of the door. If the pharma companies do not see a profit potential, one might get a vaccine for cheap now, but won't get good vaccines when you need them the next time. Reasons to oppose IP rights - human lives are at stake, both directly for protection against the virus and indirectly due to the loss of economic activity. Also, drug companies have benefited from public support so it is a reasonable expectation to provide vaccines for cheap. Ultimately, it is a political decision and will be decided by politics. If even one big country can mass produce reliable vaccines for cheap (India, due to its relaxed IP laws?), then that will give ammo to politicians elsewhere. At that point, it will be very hard for drug companies to resist political pressure to mass produce vaccines and reopen the economies before summer.