Global COVID-19 fund raises $6.9 billion, leaders want vaccine for all

 Brussels

A global fundraising meeting to fight COVID-19 yesterday raised USD 6.9 billion from the United States, the European Commission and numerous countries, with many participants stressing that an eventual vaccine should be available to anyone who needs it. Forty governments took part in the summit.

The money raised will be used for COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines, and also to support the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was crucial that everyone who needed it should have access to a vaccine. “I am trying to convince high-income countries to reserve vaccines not only for themselves but also for low- and middle income countries.

This is a stress test for solidarity,” she said. British Premier Boris Johnson agreed to this sentiment. “We as world leaders have a moral duty to ensure that it is truly available to all,” he said. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “let’s refuse an every man for himself approach, let’s continue to move forward together.”

Italy, one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, echoed his sentiment. The EU is championing global cooperation in efforts to control and end the pandemic, in contrast to the United States and China’s focus on national initiative