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What could've ended the pandemic around 6 months ago was human challenge trials on vaccines, and paying much more for earlier supplies of vaccines including those donated to other countries. (What counts as an impossible supply challenge is very different at the $500 price point than at the $50 price point.)

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> What counts as an impossible supply challenge is very different at the $500 price point than at the $50 price point.

Considering the insane profits pharmaceutical companies are currently recording, the issue has more to do with these companies favoring their benefits to the detriment of the general population which should come as no surprise to anyone having experience dealing with a pharma company.

The issue is particularly prevalent in Europe because as usual, apart from some grand posturing in the media, Europe will do nothing to fight back.

I think most of the companies are selling the vaccine quite cheaply. Moderna and Pfizer are asking for 15-20 $ / person for vaccine that has value of thousands of euros.

Which, as Eliezer notes, is part of the problem. That together with flexible delivery schedules in agreements mean that companies have little extra resources and incentives to invest in fast vaccine production.

For more discussion, see https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2021/02/ma...

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