World leaders pledge US$3.2bil at Covax summit in push for Covid-19 vaccine equity

The total number of doses donated by countries with a surplus now amounts to more than 132 million. - AFP

TOKYO (The Straits Times/ANN): About US$2.4 billion (S$3.2 billion) and 54 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines were pledged by some 40 world and business leaders on Wednesday (June 2) to the Covax facility, which will give lower-income countries a better shot at protecting themselves.

They were led by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's pledge of US$800 million at the virtual Covax Advance Market Commitment (AMC) summit, co-hosted by Japan and the Gavi vaccine alliance, which coordinates Covax, the facility to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines.