April is turning out to be a BIG month for taking action and putting pressure on big pharma and governments (especially rich country governments) in our call for a People’s Vaccine!
What’s happening in April?
Pharma shareholder meetings and more meetings of the World Trade Organization’s TRIPS Council to discuss waiver of COVID-19 vaccine monopolies give us an opportunity to ramp up pressure:
- April 22 – Informal WTO TRIPS Council meeting
- April 22 – J&J and Pfizer annual shareholder meetings
- April 30 – Formal WTO TRIPS Council meeting
- April 30 – AstraZeneca virtual shareholder event including Q&A w/CEO
- May 5-6 – WTO General Council meeting
- May 11 – AstraZeneca annual general meeting (closed-door)
What actions are being planned?
Actions on the ground
People’s Vaccine Alliance partners are organizing actions at pharma headquarters and other key locations. Sign up to stay up to date as plans come together. You can contact Emily Sanderson with any questions about US actions or if you want to organize an action where you are.
- April 29: Atlanta, At Biden’s 100 Days address, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy NW, Duluth, GA, 4:30pm ET
- April 30: Philadelphia, 30th St Station, 12pm
- May 1: Seattle, The Gates Foundation. 5:30pm PT
- May 5: Washington DC Rally for a People’s Vaccine
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- May 11: London, outside of AstraZeneca shareholder meeting
Click the location on the map for more details about the actions.
Actions online
April 21 – April 30 (and beyond)
Use the People’s Vaccine online tool to send a message to Biden and big pharma that they must work together to make vaccines available for everyone, everywhere.
April 21 – April 30 (and beyond) – Jonas Salk Around the World
Bring Jonas Salk and his scientific and philosophical spirit to as many places as possible to remind people of a role model who prioritized people’s well-being over profit.
Sign a petition! (ongoing)
Send a postcard to the White House!
April 21 – Big Pharma: Your profits, our lives.
Join this public meeting bringing together survivors, healthcare workers and supporters to build power between stakeholders.
April 21 – “Ask a CEO” Twitterstorm
As shareholder meetings approach, we ask the CEOs of Big Pharma whether they will commit to (or why not?) sharing the science, tech and know how around their vaccines, to ensure everyone, everywhere can be vaccinated. Use the tool below to join the twitterstorm and check out #AskTheCEO on Twitter.
April 23 – Free the Vaccine Open Meeting #2
Join Free the Vaccine for an update on actions, hear from People’s Vaccine Alliance leaders, and see how you can support the continued actions.
April 29 – Mobilising support for patent law reform locally and internationally
An online discussion on overcoming barriers to medicines, vaccines, and medical tools for cancer, diabetes, HIV and TB, as well as COVID-19. This is even more important as the World Trade Organisation’s TRIPS Council meets on 30 April to discuss the proposal to waive patents at the WTO by South Africa and India.
May 20 – Free the Vaccine Open Meeting #3
Join Free the Vaccine for an update on actions, hear from People’s Vaccine Alliance leaders, and see how you can support the continued actions.
