Wednesday 1st December 2021

(2 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Kamall Portrait Lord Kamall (Con)
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I thank my noble friend for his question. I am pretty sure that the answer is yes.

Baroness Chakrabarti Portrait Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab)
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My Lords, generic drugs were crucial to the global response to HIV/AIDS; I see the Minister nodding. In that case, will we learn that lesson for this pandemic and stop blocking the TRIPS waiver so that we can better vaccinate the global south and protect ourselves from new variants?

Lord Kamall Portrait Lord Kamall (Con)
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One of the best ways to help to vaccinate people across the world is through multilateral, bilateral and plurilateral partnerships. We will have donated 100 million coronavirus vaccine doses by next June. We are committed to working internationally. This issue comes up at the G7 where, once again, we are seen as leaders on the COVAX programme and other such programmes. It is important that we focus on what is effective and how we can get vaccines to those who really need them.