SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
The People's Vaccine Alliance is mobilizing to condemn pharmaceutical companies for failing to share their Covid-19 vaccine and treatment recipes with low- and middle-income countries, as Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson host their annual general meetings. (Photo: The People's Vaccine/Twitter)
Noting that "pharmaceutical companies are making billions, while billions go unvaccinated," the advocacy group People's Vaccine Alliance on Wednesday published a parody video lampooning Big Pharma's greed and profiteering from a pandemic that's now claimed more than six million lives.
"Liquid gold, mate! We're making a thousand bucks' profit a second," the satirical Big Pharma executive--played by British artist Jolyon Rubinstein--gushes in a phone call, presumably with a colleague. "Omicron was a total money-spinner, but apparently the new variant is even more transmissible!"
In another call, he informs a potential buyer, "I'm afraid the price per dose has doubled... It's a demand thing."
"My hands are tied," he says before hanging up the phone and then exclaiming, "In golden handcuffs!"
\u201cWe all know *this guy*.\n\nHe\u2019s already made billions of the pandemic but is that ever enough? \n\nIf you believe that human lives are more important than the next billion $$, join activists and tell pharma what you think of their pandemic profiteering.\n\n\ud83d\udc49 https://t.co/8iK84V4UaG\u201d— The People's Vaccine (@The People's Vaccine) 1651050049
In another "call" with Joe Biden, Rubinstein's character pans the U.S. president's endorsement of an Indian and South African proposal to temporarily waive some intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines, asking, "You've gone off that crazy patent-lifting idea, yeah?"
The video's release coincides with a new People's Vaccine Alliance campaign targeting pharma giants Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson during their annual general meetings in New York and London.
"These vaccines were created with unprecedented public funding to deal with an unprecedented global threat to humanity. They should not be private property--they are the people's vaccines," asserted People's Vaccine Alliance policy adviser Julia Kosgei.
"There are manufacturers ready to make vaccines and treatments in the Global South," she added. "But first, world leaders must suspend intellectual property rules and pharmaceutical companies must transfer the technology to make Covid-19 vaccines and treatments."
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
Noting that "pharmaceutical companies are making billions, while billions go unvaccinated," the advocacy group People's Vaccine Alliance on Wednesday published a parody video lampooning Big Pharma's greed and profiteering from a pandemic that's now claimed more than six million lives.
"Liquid gold, mate! We're making a thousand bucks' profit a second," the satirical Big Pharma executive--played by British artist Jolyon Rubinstein--gushes in a phone call, presumably with a colleague. "Omicron was a total money-spinner, but apparently the new variant is even more transmissible!"
In another call, he informs a potential buyer, "I'm afraid the price per dose has doubled... It's a demand thing."
"My hands are tied," he says before hanging up the phone and then exclaiming, "In golden handcuffs!"
\u201cWe all know *this guy*.\n\nHe\u2019s already made billions of the pandemic but is that ever enough? \n\nIf you believe that human lives are more important than the next billion $$, join activists and tell pharma what you think of their pandemic profiteering.\n\n\ud83d\udc49 https://t.co/8iK84V4UaG\u201d— The People's Vaccine (@The People's Vaccine) 1651050049
In another "call" with Joe Biden, Rubinstein's character pans the U.S. president's endorsement of an Indian and South African proposal to temporarily waive some intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines, asking, "You've gone off that crazy patent-lifting idea, yeah?"
The video's release coincides with a new People's Vaccine Alliance campaign targeting pharma giants Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson during their annual general meetings in New York and London.
"These vaccines were created with unprecedented public funding to deal with an unprecedented global threat to humanity. They should not be private property--they are the people's vaccines," asserted People's Vaccine Alliance policy adviser Julia Kosgei.
"There are manufacturers ready to make vaccines and treatments in the Global South," she added. "But first, world leaders must suspend intellectual property rules and pharmaceutical companies must transfer the technology to make Covid-19 vaccines and treatments."
Noting that "pharmaceutical companies are making billions, while billions go unvaccinated," the advocacy group People's Vaccine Alliance on Wednesday published a parody video lampooning Big Pharma's greed and profiteering from a pandemic that's now claimed more than six million lives.
"Liquid gold, mate! We're making a thousand bucks' profit a second," the satirical Big Pharma executive--played by British artist Jolyon Rubinstein--gushes in a phone call, presumably with a colleague. "Omicron was a total money-spinner, but apparently the new variant is even more transmissible!"
In another call, he informs a potential buyer, "I'm afraid the price per dose has doubled... It's a demand thing."
"My hands are tied," he says before hanging up the phone and then exclaiming, "In golden handcuffs!"
\u201cWe all know *this guy*.\n\nHe\u2019s already made billions of the pandemic but is that ever enough? \n\nIf you believe that human lives are more important than the next billion $$, join activists and tell pharma what you think of their pandemic profiteering.\n\n\ud83d\udc49 https://t.co/8iK84V4UaG\u201d— The People's Vaccine (@The People's Vaccine) 1651050049
In another "call" with Joe Biden, Rubinstein's character pans the U.S. president's endorsement of an Indian and South African proposal to temporarily waive some intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines, asking, "You've gone off that crazy patent-lifting idea, yeah?"
The video's release coincides with a new People's Vaccine Alliance campaign targeting pharma giants Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson during their annual general meetings in New York and London.
"These vaccines were created with unprecedented public funding to deal with an unprecedented global threat to humanity. They should not be private property--they are the people's vaccines," asserted People's Vaccine Alliance policy adviser Julia Kosgei.
"There are manufacturers ready to make vaccines and treatments in the Global South," she added. "But first, world leaders must suspend intellectual property rules and pharmaceutical companies must transfer the technology to make Covid-19 vaccines and treatments."