World leaders pledge €7.4bn to research Covid-19 vaccine
by Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor from Science | The Guardian on (#5316G)
EU-hosted talks tout cooperation but is not addressed by India, Russia or US
World leaders, with the notable exception of Donald Trump, stumped up nearly 7.4bn (6.5bn) to research Covid-19 vaccines and therapies at a virtual event convened by the EU, pledging the money will also be used to distribute any vaccine to poor countries on time and equitably.
But in a sign of the fractured state of global health diplomacy, the event was not addressed by India, Russia or the US. After a weekend of persuasion, China was represented by its ambassador to the EU.
Continue reading...