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Lack of Transparency in Public Funding for COVID-19 Vaccines Sparks Outrage

A scathing report by the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) reveals that pharmaceutical companies received over $100 billion in public funds and advance purchase agreements (APAs) during the pandemic, with minimal accountability. Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna alone secured $32 billion in government grants and $74 billion in APAs, yet their contracts lacked clauses requiring affordable pricing or technology sharing.

“Taxpayers bankrolled these vaccines, but corporations reaped the rewards,” said EPSU spokesperson Clare Joy. “Pfizer’s $35 billion net profit from COVID-19 products is a slap in the face to public health systems struggling to afford doses.” The report notes that Moderna raised its vaccine price by 73% between 2021 and 2023, while Pfizer hiked costs by 56%, despite production efficiencies reducing manufacturing expenses.

Campaigners demand retroactive conditions on public funding, including profit caps and mandatory licensing. “Public money should come with strings attached,” said Margarida Silva of Corporate Europe Observatory. “Without binding rules, we’re just subsidizing shareholder dividends.” The European Parliament is now debating legislation to enforce transparency in public-private health partnerships, but critics argue progress is too slow to prevent future profiteering.

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African Vaccine Hubs Face Barriers Amid Intellectual Property Disputes

Efforts to establish mRNA vaccine production in Africa, touted as a solution to vaccine inequity, are hitting roadblocks due to stringent IP protections and technical secrecy. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa successfully replicated Moderna’s vaccine in 2022 but faces legal threats despite the company’s pledge not to enforce patents.

“We’ve proven we can produce quality vaccines, but scaling up requires access to raw materials and know-how,” said Dr. Petro Terblanche of Afrigen Biologics. “Companies like Pfizer and BioNTech refuse to share critical data, citing trade secrets.” The hub’s output remains symbolic, with only 100,000 doses produced annually—far short of Africa’s demand for 700 million doses.

Meanwhile, Pfizer and BioNTech continue to prioritize lucrative contracts with wealthy nations. Their “fair pricing” model charges African countries $6.75 per dose—triple the production cost—while the EU pays $23.15. “This isn’t equity; it’s exploitation,” said Mohga Kamal-Yanni of the People’s Vaccine Alliance. “Breaking monopolies is essential to achieving vaccine sovereignty.”

As the African Union pushes for 60% of vaccines to be locally produced by 2040, advocates urge binding WTO reforms and stronger technology-sharing mandates. “Without systemic change,” warned Kamal-Yanni, “the next pandemic will repeat the same tragic script.”