In the EU, the goal is for citizens to get vaccinated by this summer, for the African continent only every fifth citizen is expected to be vaccinated at the same period.

South Africa and India have tried to get an exemption where poorer countries do not have to pay patent fees to pharmaceutical companies when producing corona vaccine.

But Sweden and the majority voted on Thursday for such an exception in the WTO, the World Trade Organization.

Minister for Development Aid Per Olsson Fridh (MP) will not pursue the issue of milder patent rules.

- The WTO is not in the development assistance portfolio, so it is not my role to pursue it (the issue, editor's note) on behalf of Sweden.

More money for Covax

Per Olsson Fridh highlights other solutions instead.

- It is about support for Covax, working solutions for the surplus and strengthening of health systems.

Covax is the international collaboration to ensure that the vaccine also benefits poorer countries.

Sweden has contributed SEK 100 million and there may be increased funding.

- We are now sitting and looking at our opportunity to enter with additional financial support, and I think that is needed, says Per Olsson Fridh.

Excess vaccine

He also wants to see initiatives to ensure that Sweden's and other member states' expected vaccine surpluses reach poorer countries.

- The EU has deliberately bought more vaccines than is needed, with the basic idea that we should share this.