WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday released the following statement on the Biden administration’s announcement of support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization.

“We are watching the return of American moral leadership. President Biden's decision is gutsy and lifesaving, and as an early supporter of waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, I'm thrilled the U.S. is taking this step. COVID-19 is a global health crisis that knows no borders, and one that will only be solved when we work together to get as many people, domestically and internationally, vaccinated as soon as possible,” said Murphy.

Last month, Murphy sent a letter urging the Biden administration to support a temporary patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccines that would allow countries to manufacture treatments locally, expediting the global vaccination effort and saving countless lives. Murphy also sent letters to Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson requesting information on their plans to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine manufacturing capacity across the globe.

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