Moderna is opening a facility in Montreal – meaning greater access to the COVID-19 vaccine and future vaccines for Montrealers. But under capitalism, vaccine inequity exists, as rich nations are prioritized for vaccine distribution, while poor nations are not.

Montrealers have been mobilizing for change, with some taking part of the International Workers day on May 1st, also known as May Day, demanding for an end to vaccine patents to provide access to vaccines for all.

Dr. Srinivas Murthy, Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine at UBC explains pharmaceutical company’s exploitation of medicine.

Murthy says that Moderna is allowed to exploit public needs, adding that Moderna will do what it wants and Canada will buy what it makes. As a result, Murthy said we’re chasing companies.

Moderna started off as a small company based in Massachusetts, but accumulated billions for being one of the first companies to complete the mRNA COVID vaccine for clinical trials.

Patents are what limits access to vaccines for all countries. This means that companies who have patented their vaccine are the only company able to produce them.

Murthy said that we need an end to patents in order to respond to needs. He said if there’s an outbreak in Subsaharan Africa and they need a vaccine, they’re rely on international help, which may not happen or may have delays. This can lead to further infection and even international spread. 

Murthy said Montreal and Canada’s pharmaceutical sector wasn’t always privatized.

He said Canada used to have the Connaught Laboratories at the University of Toronto to develop insulin. But that there has not been policies in place to prevent the private sector from taking over.