'Major step forward' on sharing of Covid vaccine patents

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins: 'This is a long, overdue step forward. It is really important that the form of the new agreement does not include unnecessary obstacles or ambiguities that would stop it being effective.' Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The WTO has hailed an agreement to increase access to vaccine patents as “a major step forward” after talks between the EU, the US, India, and South Africa. 

The move has been welcomed by Irish vaccine equity advocates as “a good step in the right direction”.