Janet wears a blue hi-vis jacket and a blue cap and carries a megaphone. Protesters stand behind her with signs.
Janet wears a blue hi-vis jacket and a blue cap and carries a megaphone. Protesters stand behind her with signs.

It's an insult when money is more important than people's lives.”

Janet Fuentes, health activist, Peru.

Fight Inequality

COVID-19 has turbocharged inequality around the world. Since the pandemic began, the wealth of the world’s 10 richest men has doubled. Yet the incomes of 99% of humanity are worse off.

Widening economic, gender, and racial inequalities — as well as the inequality that exists between countries — are holding people back. And pushing communities into poverty.

A fairer, more equal world is possible if economies around the world are centred around people rather than profit. There are many ways we can make this happen. Including petitioning for a people's vaccine.

A people's vaccine, not a profit vaccine

Not everyone has access to vaccines

According to the WHO, at least 70% of the world's population needs to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity and manage COVID-19. But there aren’t enough vaccines to go around. Pharmaceutical profits are put before global public health. Nine people have become billionaires on the back of COVID-19 vaccines.

  • Pharmaceuticals are refusing to share the science, technology or know-how behind COVID-19 vaccines. If they did this, more manufacturers could make more vaccines in the countries that need them.
  • The UK Government is blocking - not backing - a proposal that would temporarily suspend intellectual property rights. And push pharmaceuticals to share vaccine science, tech and know-how.
  • Pharmaceuticals are making vast profits by monopolising markets and increasing prices. Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna are making combined profits of $65,000 every minute from COVID-19 vaccines. While people wait needlessly for life-saving protection.

More vaccines mean communities around the world can be vaccinated

We're part of the Peoples Vaccine Alliance. We're calling on governments and pharmaceuticals to vaccinate the world and control COVID-19:

  • The UK Government must back the temporary removal of intellectual property rights relating to COVID-19 vaccines and technologies.
  • Pharmaceuticals must join C-TAP (Covid Technology Access Pool). This facilitates the sharing of vaccine recipes.
  • Pharmaceuticals must commit to non-profit pricing during the pandemic. Then countries can afford to buy vaccines (and not go into debt) to vaccinate their citizens free of charge.
  • Financial investment is needed in manufacturing capacity and infrastructure. Then vaccination programmes can be rolled out.

Who owns the patent on this vaccine?' 'Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?””

Jonas Salk. The inventor of the polio vaccine, when asked who owned his discovery

Creating a fair economy

Governments around the world have a small and shrinking window of opportunity to create a just economy after COVID19. One that is more equal, inclusive, that protects the planet, and ends poverty.

There is plenty of wealth in the world to tackle poverty. One measure governments can take to fund and reduce inequality is to introduce a wealth tax on the world’s wealthiest people. A wealth tax starting at just 2 percent annually for millionaires and rising to 5 percent annually for billionaires could generate $2.52 trillion a year. This would be enough to:

  • lift 2.3 billion people out of poverty;
  • make enough vaccines for the world and;
  • deliver universal healthcare and social protection for all the citizens of low- and lower- middle-income countries (3.6 billion people).

How do we tackle inequalities?

We’ve been campaigning to tackle economic inequality and those affected by it such as gender and race inequalities for many years. We know through our work in communities, that broken economies are holding people back. And this is exacerbated if people are experiencing multiple types of inequalities at once. No one should be living in poverty or held back from the lack of opportunity to improve their life.

The gap between the richest and the rest, especially those living in poverty is out of control. While people at the top get influence, opportunities and power, people living in poverty miss out on the basics they need – like a decent education, healthcare, and jobs.

Women and girls, especially those living in poverty, are often hit the hardest.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Extreme inequality and poverty are not inevitable. When governments choose to make tax fairer, invest in public services and ensure fair wages for everyone, the gap can shrink and the number of people in poverty can drop.

We can reform our economy to ensure people come before profit. People have the right to a decent and dignified life free from poverty. Free from fear of the cost of falling sick or struggling with childcare costs. Every child should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. All forms of work should be recognised, valued, flexible and secure. And women and girls should be paid fairly. Greater inclusion, opportunities for all and a redistribution of power as well as wealth throughout our communities is essential so people are seen and heard. This could be a massive step towards creating safer, more equal and happier societies which benefits everyone.

We can fight inequality and beat poverty for good if we come together and demand action from those in power.

What can I do?