Open letter to the Nobel Prize Committee

Dear Nobel Prize Committees,

We write to you in great respect of the role the Nobel Prize plays in recognizing exceptional achievement for humanity. We write to thank you for the exceptional role you play for the world. And we write to you in pain. We are Covid-19 survivors. We are nurses and health workers, who have given every ounce of our being to save lives from this deadly virus. Too many of our co-workers died saving others. We are individuals who have lost loved ones to Covid-19. We come together from 40 countries across the world.

We are aware that there are some calls for Dr. Özlem Türeci and Prof. Uğur Şahin, the founders of the pharmaceutical corporation BioNTech, to be nominated and awarded for Nobel Prizes.

Prof. Şahin and Dr. Türeci have provided exceptional leadership in creating a Covid-19 mRNA vaccine that is as effective as any on the planet, with the support of German and European public funds.

And yet it profoundly distresses us that they are even being considered for any Nobel Prize. As we write today, the world is in an extraordinary crisis. 0.3% of Covid-19 vaccines have gone to low-income countries. Some three million more lives could be lost this year to people who do not have access to a Covid-19 vaccine. These could be our co-workers; our parents; it could be us.

Despite the great scientific achievement of BioNTech, Prof. Şahin and Dr. Türeci have in fact rejected efforts that would allow for billions more people to benefit from the science they have created.

Prof. Şahin andDr. Türeci have refused to share their Covid-19 vaccine recipes with the World Health Organization (WHO) that would, ensuring quality control and regulatory oversight, allow for qualified manufacturers worldwide to make the vaccine. And they have undermined efforts by over 100 countries led by South Africa and India to lift intellectual property rules on Covid-19 vaccines that started precisely one year ago.

That is far from what, as Alfred Nobel described, those who “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind”. Faced with the chance to save millions of lives with their life-saving science, Prof. Şahin and Dr. Türeci have instead chosen to protect their monopoly to create billions of dollars in profits. They prioritized their profitable partnership with Pfizer, but we expected far better from them.

That is why it would be unconscionable that they be awarded any Nobel Prize. We people in poorer countries from Africa, Latin America and Asia put out a desperate outreached hand to Prof. Şahin and Dr. Türeci, asking they help save our lives –and instead they have turned their back to us.

We believe this can still change. Our message to Prof. Sahin and Dr. Türeci to whom we also share this letter, is a simple one:we have nothing but respect for your scientific achievement. But we have nothing except despair for your subsequent failure to share that science with the world.’

Were you to agree to share your science through the WHO mRNA hub in South Africa, and its Covid-19 Technology Access pool, and to support a comprehensive waiver of intellectual property rules, we will be the first to support your nomination for a Nobel Prize: as the individuals who used their extraordinary power to save millions of lives in every country in the world at this time of unprecedented human crisis.

In sincerity and solidarity,

Signatories:

1. Zulaikha Rafiq, COVID-19 Survivor, Afghanistan
2. Morgan, Healthcare worker, Australia
3. Odette Michel Best, Healthcare worker, Australia
4. Dr Aletha Ward, Healthcare worker, Australia
5. Tom Reddington, Healthcare worker, Australia
6. Khushi Kabir, COVID-19 bereaved, Bangladesh
7. Rokeya Kabir. COVID-19 bereaved, Bangladesh
8. Nadira Mallik, COVID-19 bereaved, Bangladesh
9. M. Abdul Matin, Healthcare worker, Bangladesh
10. Pablo Andres Rivero, COVID-19 bereaved, Bolivia
11. Grazielle Custódio David, COVID-19 bereaved, Brazil
12. Reaksmey Hong, COVID-19 bereaved, Cambodia
13. Charina Huot, COVID-19 Survivor, Cambodia
14. Francisco Olivares, Healthcare worker, Chile
15. Linna. Healthcare worker, China
16. Fabiola Rodriguez, COVID-19 bereaved, Colombia
17. Richard Stern, Costa Rica
18. Mandisa Zwane-Machakata, COVID-19 bereaved, Eswatini (Swaziland)
19. Nigus Simane, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Ethiopia
20. Hailu Nurga, COVID-19 bereaved, Ethiopia
21. Rashmi Mistry, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, France
22. Anonymous, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, France
23. Saiba T Suso, COVID-19 bereaved, Gambia
24. Mam Kumba Ndow Sise, Healthcare worker, Gambia
25. Malte Radde, COVID-19 survivor, Germany
26. Adrian Schlegel, COVID-19 bereaved, Germany
27. Kaiser Gabi, Healthcare worker, Germany
28. Ohenewaa Brown, COVID-19 Survivor, Ghana
29. Emmanuel Baidoo, COVID-19 bereaved, Ghana
30. Gbene Ali Malik, COVID-19 bereaved, Ghana
31. Shobha Raghuram, COVID-19 bereaved, India
32. Babu Mathew, COVID-19 bereaved, Vaccine trial participant, India
33. Blessina Kumar, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, India
34. JaibuNisha.R, COVID-19 bereaved, Healthcare worker, Vaccine trial participant, India
35. Dr. Nitin Jadhav, COVID-19 bereaved, Indi
36. Shalmali Guttal, COVID-19 Survivor, India
37. Vijay Rukmini Rao, COVID-19 bereaved, India
38. S David Brynerd, COVID-19 bereaved, India
39. Kiran Kumar, COVID-19 bereaved, India
40. Loon Gangte, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, India
41. James Pochury, COVID-19 bereaved, India
42. Smita Khanijow, COVID-19 Survivor, India
43. David Selvaraj, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, India
44. Sushovan Dhar, COVID-19 bereaved, India
45. David Kire, COVID-19 bereaved, India
46. Anonymous, COVID-19 bereaved, India
47. Ramesh Kumar Singh, Healthcare worker, India
48. Asola, COVID-19 bereaved, India
49. Aditya Wardhana, COVID-19 bereaved, Healthcare worker, Indonesia
50. Rachmi Hertanti, COVID-19 Survivor, Indonesia
51. Meirinda Sebayang, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Indonesia
52. Kieran Harkin, Healthcare worker, Ireland
53. Susan Smith, Healthcare worker, Ireland
54. Aaron Koay, Healthcare worker, Ireland
55. John Carroll, Healthcare worker, Ireland
56. James Larkin, Healthcare Researcher, Ireland
57. Ciara Conlan, Healthcare worker, Ireland
58. Anne Reilly, Healthcare worker, Ireland
59. Paul O’Raw, Ireland
60. Sean Farren, Ireland
61. Toni Pyke, Ireland
62. John O’Louighlin Kennedy, Ireland
63. Helen Fahy, Ireland
64. Seamus ONeill, COVID-19 bereaved, Ireland
65. Michael Byrne, Ireland
66. Anne Heffernan, Ireland
67. Pat Murphy, COVID-19 bereaved, Ireland
68. Carmel Hamill, Ireland,
69. Carol Dorgan, Ireland
70. Christine Kelly, Healthcare worker, Ireland
71. Gail Nicolson, Healthcare worker, Ireland
72. Emanuela Lamieri, COVID-19 bereaved, Italy
73. Marie-Claire Wangari, Healthcare worker, Kenya
74. Allan, COVID-19 bereaved, Kenya
75. Ruth Sandimu, COVID-19 bereaved, Kenya
76. Crystal Simeoni, COVID-19 bereaved, Kenya
77. Timothy Wafula, COVID-19 bereaved, Kenya
78. Josephine Ireri, COVID-19 survivor, Kenya
79. Nickson Chepkwony, COVID-19 survivor, Healthcare worker, Kenya
80. Fatuma Matemu, Kenya
81. Deepak Xavier, COVID-19 survivor, Kenya
82. Nabil Ahmed, COVID-19 bereaved, Kenya
83. Sadia Kidwai, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Kenya
84. Julie O, COVID-19 bereaved, Kenya
85. Thokozile Lungu, COVID-19 bereaved, Malawi
86. Crisis Home KL, Healthcare worker, Vaccine trial participant, Malaysia
87. Traore Tariba, COVID-19 survivor, Mali
88. Marco Alejandro, Healthcare worker, Mexico
89. Georgina Gutiérrez Alvarado, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Mexico
90. María Eugenia Velázquez Zaragoza, COVID-19 bereaved, Healthcare worker, Mexico
91. Elizabeth, COVID-19 bereaved, Namibia
92. Praman Adhikari, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
93. Reshma Shakya, Vaccine trial participant, Nepal
94. Rajesh Didiya, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
95. Hari Bhusal, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
96. Sujat Shramanera. COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
97. Asmita Pandit, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
98. Anonymous, COVID-19 Survivor, Healthcare worker, Nepal
99. Pratap Maharjan, COVID-19 Survivor, Nepal
100. Geeta Pandey, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
101. Bishnu Prasad Sharma, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
102. Mahesh Badal, COVID-19 Survivor, Nepal
103. Lily Thapa, COVID-19 Survivor, Nepal
104. Indu Adhikary, COVID-19 Survivor, Healthcare worker, Nepal
105. Shiva Paudel, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
106. Dilip Shrestha, COVID-19 survivor, Nepal
107. Bal Krishna Kattel, COVID-19 survivor, Nepal
108. Nilam Pun, Healthcare worker, Nepal
109. BarsaThapa, COVID-19 bereaved, Nepal
110. Lumanti Joshi, COVID-19 Survivor, Nepal
111. Asma Kiran, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Pakistan
112. Asghar Satti, Healthcare worker, Pakistan
113. Dr Alia Haider, Healthcare worker, Pakistan
114. Irfan Ilahi, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Pakistan
115. Farooq Tariq, COVID-19 survivor, Pakistan
116. Dinah Fuentesfina, COVID-19 bereaved, Philippines
117. Angelica Pago, COVID-19 Survivor, Philippines
118. Anthony Louie V. David, COVID-19 Survivor, Healthcare worker, Philippines
119. Jesus Rancile Cabas, COVID-19 Survivor, Philippines
120. Raymund Lauron, COVID-19 Survivor, Philippines
121. Joshua San PedroCOVID-19 Survivor, Healthcare worker, Philippines
122. Juan Dionisio Rafael Ferriols, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Philippines
123. Jamie Dominique N. Dasmariñas, Healthcare worker, Philippines
124. Randy Dacanay, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Philippines
125. Valentina Montanaro, COVID-19 bereaved, Portugal
126. Maria Fernanda Salazar Rodriguez, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Portugal
127. Michel Ndayambaje, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Rwanda
128. Jacqueline Nyirabyimana, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Rwanda
129. Anonymous, COVID-19 Survivor, Rwanda
130. Belinda Ameterra, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
131. Solanga Solly Milambo, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
132. Irna Senekal, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
133. Geraldine Naidoo, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
134. Tian Johnson, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
135. Mabalane Mfundisi, COVID-19 bereaved, Healthcare worker, South Africa
136. Tokky Shingange, COVID-19 survivor, South Africa
137. Jens Pedersen, Healthcare worker, South Africa
138. Rafia Akram, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
139. Mbali Baduza, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
140. Linda Cooper, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
141. Mila Harding, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
142. Fatima Hassan, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
143. Vanessa Japtha, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
144. Maurice Smithers, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
145. Sasha Stevenson, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
146. Umunyana, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
147. Yanga, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
148. Lucky Boy Edison Mkhondwane, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
149. Boitumelo, COVID-19 survivor, South Africa
150. Jean Richter, COVID-19 survivor, South Africa
151. Dumisile, COVID-19 bereaved, Healthcare worker, South Africa
152. Ntsiki Mpulo, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
153. Ingrid Weideman, COVID-19 bereaved, South Africa
154. Kapil Narain, COVID-19 bereaved, COVID-19 survivor, Healthcare worker, South Africa
155. Candice Sehoma, COVID-19 survivor, South Africa
156. Leanne Brady, Healthcare worker, South Africa
157. Nikki Schaay, Healthcare worker, South Africa
158. Paula Rodríguez Notario, COVID-19 Survivor, Spain
159. Laura Girón, COVID-19 Survivor, Spain
160. Anonymous, Vaccine trial participant, Spain
161. Nuria Larrinaga Barea,COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
162. Elena Alfaro Ruiz-Clavijo, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
163. Paloma Notario Diaz, COVID-19 Survivor, Spain
164. Anonymous, Vaccine trial participant, Spain
165. Marta Iniguez, COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
166. Carlos Díaz, COVID-19 Survivor, Spain
167. Atria Mier, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
168. Anonymous, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
169. Sandra Victoria Salazar Espitia, COVID-19 survivor, Spain
170. Maite, COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
171. Liliana Suarez Navaz, COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
172. Roberto Gil Gordon, COVID-19 survivor, Spain
173. Anonymous, Vaccine trial participant, Spain
174. Anonymous, COVID-19 bereaved, Spain
175. Luis Martinez Ros, COVID-19 bereaved ,Healthcare worker, Spain
176. Nalini Ratnarajah, COVID-19 bereaved, Sri Lanka
177. Pubudini Wickramaratne, COVID-19 bereaved, Sri Lanka
178. Harry Prabowo, COVID-19 bereaved, Thailand
179. Sofien Asta, COVID-19 survivor, Tunisia
180. Joan Babirye, COVID-19 bereaved, Healthcare worker, Uganda
181. Joseph Abubanks Mwebaze, Healthcare worker, Uganda
182. Anonymous, COVID-19 bereaved, UK
183. Kathleen Zimak, UK
184. Matheus Rossetto, COVID-19 bereaved, UK
185. Anonymous, Healthcare worker, UK
186. Elizabeth Baines, UK
187. Sheila Cogley, Healthcare worker, UK
188. Eileen Mcmanus, UK
189. Paulo Roberto Rossetto, COVID-19 Survivor, COVID-19 bereaved, UK
190. Saphal Gurung, Healthcare worker, UK
191. Kazi R Begum, COVID-19 bereaved, UK
192. Alka Makwana, COVID-19 bereaved Healthcare worker, UK
193. Zheyuan Xie, Healthcare worker, UK
194. Kazi Begum, COVID-19 bereaved, UK
195. Anonymous, COVID-19 bereaved, United States
196. Tristan Quinn-Thibodeau, COVID-19 survivor, United States
197. Reshma Ramachandran, COVID-19 bereaved, Healthcare worker, United States
198. Belle Koch, Healthcare worker, United States
199. Jacob Hyman, Healthcare worker, United States
200. Martha Tholanah, COVID-19 bereaved, Zimbabwe
201. Tanya Charles, COVID-19 bereaved, Zimbabwe
202. Glenda, COVID-19 survivor, Zimbabwe