I understand the patent system very well, albeit in another context. I support much shorter/stricter criteria for patents in general, as well as waivers where it makes sense.

The argument is that nobody (no person, no company, nor government) would have mass produced or distributed cloned/copied covid vaccines to these areas faster at that point in time (even if approval processes were largely waived).

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/health/covid-africa-deaths.html discusses some of the complexities in Africa, if you are interested. I agree that the response could have been better, but it could also have been worse. Other places had their own issues.

I don't think the current vaccination % means much, given that most people on the planet have been exposed to it, often multiple times.

Why would anyone who gets a mild case every few months bother to vaccinate? There are reasons, but not many that resonate.