São Paulo – Leaders of 40 countries and several organizations and companies on Wednesday (2) pledged nearly USD 2.4 billion to the COVAX plan to share COVID-19 shots with poorer nations. COVAX is a global alliance composed of 150 countries led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and created to boost the development and distribution of COVID-19 shots.
GAVI vaccine alliance chairman José Manuel Durão Barroso pondered that the commitments made during the international summit hosted alongside Japan, laid the foundation for the end of the pandemic. GAVI also leads the COVAX facility. United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said the facility allows for reaching “a more equitable distribution” of the COVID-19 shots.
In 2021 and 2022, COVAX aims to deliver 1.8 billion vaccine doses. The government of Japan, represented by prime minister Yoshihide Suga, stepped up from USD 200 million to USD 1 billion the country’s contribution to the facility. Several private partners pledged EUR 300 million (USD 367 million).
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
