The Biden administration is pledging some 4 billion Dollars to a coronavirus vaccination programme for poorer countries, US officials say.
The officials said on Thursday that half of the money would be made available this year in hopes of prying loose bigger donations from other rich governments around the world.
President Joe Biden is expected to use his first meeting with leaders of Group of Seven advanced economies on Friday to announce an immediate 2 billion Dollars donation to the COVAX program co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the officials said. COVAX aims to ensure a fair supply of coronavirus vaccines around the world.
The US will provide the remaining 2 billion Dollars over the next two years as other nations fulfill and make their own pledges, the officials added.
The US funding has already been approved by Congress.
Mr. Biden’s action is a sharp departure from his predecessor, Donald Trump, who threatened to withdraw from the WHO, which he accused of being too close to China, where the novel coronavirus emerged in December, 2019.
COVAX says it wants to deliver at least 2 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021 to cover 20% of the most vulnerable people in poor and middle-income countries.
The programme is at risk of failing, mainly due to a lack of funds
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