3 ms·
How does ethics play into this at all? Pfizer is delivering vaccines as fast as they can, and at this point the bottleneck is logistics. It’s not exactly easy t
by KMnO4 5y ago
How does ethics play into this at all? Pfizer is delivering vaccines as fast as they can, and at this point the bottleneck is logistics. It’s not exactly easy to set up the infrastructure to administer 14 billion shots.
The fact that Pfizer is ready with a booster has little to do with the actual administration of the vaccine.
- _djo_ 5y agoSharing IP to allow other countries to manufacture their own doses would be a huge step forward.
- refurb 5y agoAin’t no country going to make the mRNA vaccines in time unless they already have the technology.
- Ericson2314 5y agoDo the "tech transfer" step too. Our privatized system of engineering is such garbage.
- refurb 5y agoEven with tech transfer you’d be looking at years before being able to manufacture. This is a very specialized process. It’s not like following a cookbook.
- Ericson2314 5y agoWhat is the evidence for that? Surely it depends on the degree of tech transfer?
- _djo_ 5y agoA lot of countries have the technological capability to manufacture mRNA vaccines with open licensing. However those aren't the only options, and even developing countries can make vaccines like the AZ and J&J ones as evidenced by some of the existing outsourced production. What's lacking is the legal right to do so. This also should be a global engineering effort with technology transfer and an active effort to open up COVID vaccine manufacturing wherever possible.
- ipaddr 5y agoIf they create additional demand they can make more profit for years. They are one of the few companies who are approved for anyone under 18. They could expand production based on this.
- ummonk 5y agoThe ethical issue comes from using doses as boosters instead of administering them to unvaccinated people. And no, the bottleneck is not logistics - there are many countries around the world still waiting on vaccine deliveries that they have the logistics to administer.
- londons_explore 5y agoCoca cola sells that many drinks every day. Training someone to do injections takes an hour. There are millions of people available to help if it'll save their lives.
- pbak 5y agoPfizer actually manufactures only half of the third step in the process it acquired when it bought BioNTech. Everything before is actually made by only three subcontractors of BioNTech in 3 factories in Switzerland, Germany and Belgium (which does the other half of the step). They are already working at well over originally planned maximum capacity for these plants. And that's for the original 2 doses only. Pfizer is supposed to have manufacturing capacity open sometimes later this year... Where they are gonna manufacture the booster ? Good question. So yeah, you can say it's not gonna be that fast.
- majewsky 5y ago> Pfizer actually manufactures only half of the third step in the process it acquired when it bought BioNTech. BioNTech is partnering with Pfizer (and Fosun) to manufacture and distribute the vaccine, but Pfizer has not bought BioNTech. They're still an independent, publicly-traded company.
- pbak 5y agoYes, checked it. I was wrong. It's still mostly German owned.