A rchive Date
[ 10-09-2020 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ India ]
|
[https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/coronavirus-covid19-world-sept-10-1.5718428
Coronavirus: What's happening around the world on Thursday
UN calls for $35 billion US in funding to support vaccine acceleration program
The Associated Press · Posted: Sep 10, 2020 6:56 AM ET
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for $35 billion US ($46 billion Cdn) more - including $15 billion ($19.7 billion Cdn) in the next three months - for the World Health Organization's program to back vaccines, treatments and diagnostics against COVID-19.
Some $3 billion has been contributed so far, Guterres told an online event on Thursday, calling it "seed funding" that was less than 10 per cent of what the WHO wants for the program, formally called Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
Financial support has, so far, lagged goals, as countries or governments including the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan and the United States reach bilateral deals for vaccines, prompting Guterres and WHO General Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to plead with countries to contribute.
"We now need $35 billion more to go from 'start up' to 'scale up and impact,'" Guterres said at a meeting of a council formed to help the ACT Accelerator gain traction. "There is real urgency in these numbers. Without an infusion of $15 billion over the next three months, beginning immediately, we will lose the window of opportunity."
The total sought, $38 billion ($46 billion Cdn), is more than the previously published $31.3 billion ($41.1 billion Cdn) ACT goal and includes for the first time additional funding for health systems, in addition to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, a WHO spokeswoman said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged backing, having in August already promised 400 million euros ($624 million Cdn) to the COVAX vaccine portion of the program.
"It is difficult to find a more compelling investment case. The European Commission will remain deeply and entirely committed to the success of the ACT Accelerator," von der Leyen said. "The world needs it, we all need it."
Tedros renewed calls for scaling up COVID-19 clinical trials. AstraZeneca this week suspended late-stage trials on its potential vaccine after an illness in a participant in Britain. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said on Thursday if safety reviewers allow a restart, the company should still know by year's end if its vaccine works.
AstraZeneca's pause is a "wake-up call" but should not discourage researchers, WHO's chief scientist said Tuesday.
"This is a wake-up call to recognize that there are ups and downs in clinical development and that we have to be prepared," Soumya Swaminathan told a virtual briefing from Geneva.
"We do not have to be discouraged. These things happen."
Governments are desperate for a vaccine to help end the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused more than 900,000 deaths and global economic turmoil, and the WHO had flagged AstraZeneca's, being developed with Oxford University, as the most promising.
However, the drugmaker suspended late-stage trials on its potential vaccine this week after a participant in Britain was reported to be suffering from symptoms associated with a rare spinal inflammatory disorder.
"It's a race against this virus, and it's a race to save lives. It's not a race between companies, and it's not a race between countries," said Mike Ryan, WHO's head of emergencies.
©2020 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
|