WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A plan to develop a vaccine for poor countries against the virus that causes pneumonia and meningitis could still go forward even if G8 leaders meeting in two weeks fail to agree on funding, officials said on Friday.
The Italian proposal is on the Group of Eight leaders' agenda for its meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida July 15-17 and would cost the wealthiest nations $900 million, said an Italian official, who added that the idea has broad support outside the G8.