Since the approval of COVID-19 vaccines, international efforts have intensified on vaccination schemes perceived as the only light at the end of the tunnel. Governments are working tirelessly to scale up the number of vaccinated people, just as vaccine manufacturers are stretching their facilities to meet the increasing demand for doses. The international community is trying to help the poorest countries in the world by improving vaccine supplies and removing obstacles. In this regard, India and South Africa have applied to World Trade Organisation to waive vaccine-related intellectual property rights. The proposal has sparked off academic debates as to its merit. This article addresses the waiver controversy. Following a critical review of both dimensions of the controversy, the article concentrates on the extent to which the waiver application contradicts the theoretical justification of the patent system. It concludes that the concerns raised over the conflict between the waiver proposal and the patent right philosophy are indefensible.
Lockdowns were among the control measures taken by many countries to hinder the virus from rapidly spreading. Public places had to be closed, including schools, as children are among the vulnerable groups that must always be protected. The primary purpose of this article is to explain children's rights to education based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG 2030). This article further investigates the consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns for ensuring that privilege for children. The article applies a qualitative method and observed that the lockdown strategy created challenges for all children with respect to receiving education, as the traditional learning pedagogy involving face-to-face meetings forcibly replaced by online learning. The principle of the best interest of the child is a primary consideration. In conclusion, governments must be responsible for providing all necessities to support education for all children, which is essential for human development.