BIRD (FLU) DROPPINGS: II. The (Un)Expected

Saturday, March 31, 2007

II. The (Un)Expected

On the grill: WHO’s sincerity—how faithful will it be to its reassurances of transparency on the results of sample sharing for vaccine production?

Said WHO, “[it] is not involved in financial negotiations, either in selling viruses or buying vaccine.”

Dr. Heymann, WHO assistant director-general for communicable diseases, adds: “Countries will negotiate bilaterally with vaccine manufacturers. We will certainly facilitate if countries are asking for support…”

So, how strong is this reassurance, given that vaccine manufacturers would consider profit its major reason for being? How humanitarian can we expect them to become?

In the end, with few bargaining chips, Indonesia had no other alternative than to give in to the constant vexation from other self-serving entities. Indonesia has been in a no-win situation from the very onset of these preposterous negotiations. If not WHO, some other super power would have pushed and prodded until the third world country gave in.

At the bottom line, the issue is moot and academic; fairly wanting “proper consideration and timing.” I can only regret: Equity of benefits for both developed and developing nations is but only a figment of some philanthropist's imagination.

Pity. Had Indonesia stood firmer, it could have made sure of priority access to vaccines and even free vaccines from manufacturers. It could have gone farther by stipulating that vaccines be made available for all third world countries at very affordable prices.

Had it demanded more, maybe when all hell breaks lose, the unexpected may not come at too steep a price for all.

2 Comments:

Anonymous said...: '...Equity of benefits for both developed and developing nations is but only a figment of some philanthropist's imagination...'

Unfortunately it rarely gets out of their minds and into reality. What chance an organisation like WHO and a country like Indonesia getting together for the benefit of all.; April 13, 2007 at 7:54 AM
Anonymous said...: Grand Puppet Mistress,

Aren't you being unnecessarily pessimistic? The global order does exist and WHO does serve it, but, in this case, it served us well. If that viral strain went to waste for this grand "equity-of-benefits' principle, I think the world would be in hotter water than it would be if idealism were served this time.

What I'm saying is: Yes, chances are WHO and developed nations would milk the vaccine (once a successful one is developed--not the 30% effective vaccine we have right now) for all it's worth and developing countries would have to beg and give up their soul so they can survive a flu pandemic with the vaccine; but, at least, a portion of our population would be saved (nevermind that they're the privileged few, and it's unfair that they're always the one saved and not the underdogs for a change).

Bear in mind, as well. Bird Flu does not seem to care whether you're developed or developing (UK was hit by bird flu early this year). So let's just get this vaccine invented or developed or whatever and take care of "equity of benefits" later.

That is fair.; April 13, 2007 at 9:12 AM

Saturday, March 31, 2007

II. The (Un)Expected

2 Comments:

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