Ireland should be using its "considerable" international influence to make sure a patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccines happens, according to public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally.
He says poorer countries shouldn't be expected to be left "waiting for the crumbs from the rich countries' table" when it comes to vaccines.
The debate around getting more vaccines to developing countries has intensified in recent weeks, especially as some countries begin discussing the prospect of booster campaigns.
The World Health Organisation has called on wealthy countries to hold off on giving boosters until "at least" the end of September, in order to get much-needed vaccines to other parts of the world.
It comes amid major differences in vaccination rates globally.
While Ireland has now given over 90% of adults at least one dose, in many parts of the world vaccination is still in its very, very early stages.
The situation has led many activists to call for typical intellectual property rights to be waived, so manufacturers in poorer countries can start producing the vaccines locally.
It's a call that has the support of the Biden administration - a move that was welcomed by some senior Irish ministers - but has been opposed by the European Union and others.
Dr Scally - President of Epidemiology & Public Health at the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK - told On The Record it's vital to get as many people as possible vaccinated globally.
He said: “I don’t think we should be expecting the less developed countries - the poorer countries - to be waiting for the crumbs from the rich countries' table.
“Talking of boosters, we need to boost the production of vaccines across the world. The way we do that - the way that has been asked for by countries like Brazil and South Africa and India, supported by the US - is a patent waiver.
“That means any of the competent vaccine manufacturers can start producing vaccines, and they won’t be subject to the usual copyright and intellectual property rules. That’s the way forward."
He said such a waiver is currently opposed by the likes of the UK and EU.
Meanwhile, the prices of vaccines is increasing globally - with Dr Scally saying manufacturers are set to do "extraordinary well" financially due to the level of demand.
He said he understands the pharmaceutical industry is important to many countries, but these are exceptional circumstances.
He said: “The UK and EU are opposing the patent waiver. I can understand why: the pharmaceutical industry is very important in some countries, like Ireland.
“This is not changing the game for every other medicine and vaccine - this is a one-off deal to get the world out of this terrible pandemic.
“It’s in all our interests to get that patent waiver in place - Ireland should be using its considerable influence within the international community, and the EU in particular, to make sure that happens.”
Earlier, HSE CEO Paul Reid told the same programme that he believes Ireland should be in a position to roll out a booster campaign while also supporting developing countries with their own vaccine programmes.
However, he said any decision on whether or not to push ahead with a booster campaign will be one for the Government.
