AN OVERVIEW OF PATENTS, VACCINES AND COVID-19

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present an updated overview of the issue of patents and treatments for COVID-19 and, in particular, vaccines. First, we offer a conceptual clarification of concepts such as patent, vaccine, or coronavirus. Secondly, we explain where the debate between intellectual property and health has taken place and, finally, we outline the attempts to solve the open problems and the challenges that we believe remain to be met, with the aim of helping non-experts to find their way around this intersection between vaccines, COVID-19, and patents.