G7 Pledges 1 Billion COVID Vaccine Doses

  • Date: 13-Jun-2021
  • Source: Asharq AL-awsat
  • Sector:Healthcare
  • Country:Middle East
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G7 Pledges 1 Billion COVID Vaccine Doses

Leaders of the Group of Seven countries hold a discussion in Cornwall, England. AP

Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations staked their claim Sunday to leading the world out of the coronavirus pandemic, pledging more than 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses to poorer nations.

Speaking at the end of the three-day summit in southwest England, US President Joe Biden, who was making his first foreign trip as leader, said it was an "extraordinary, collaborative and productive meeting.“

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the summit's host, praised the "fantastic degree of harmony“ among the group.

Despite Johnson's call to "vaccinate the world" by the end of 2022 the promise of 1 billion doses for vaccine-hungry countries “” coming both directly and through the international COVAX program “” falls far short of the 11 billion doses the World Health Organization said is needed to vaccinate at least 70% of the world's population and truly end the pandemic.

Half of the billion-dose pledge is coming from the United States and 100 million from Britain. Canada said it also would give 100 million doses, and France pledged 60 million.

The vaccines are due to be delivered by the end of 2022, but Biden said the leaders were clear