The European Union is joining forces with global partners to kick-start a
pledging effort – the
Coronavirus Global Response
– starting on 4 May 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) and global
health organisations have launched a joint call for action to develop fast
and equitable access to safe, quality, effective and affordable
diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines against coronavirus.
To raise funds in support of this endeavour, the European Union and its
partners will organise a worldwide pledging marathon. Countries and
organisations around the world are invited to pledge to help reach the
target of €7.5 billion in initial funding.
European Commission President von der Leyen said:
“We need to bring the world, its leaders and people together against
coronavirus. In just 10 days, we will launch a global pledging effort.
A real marathon. Because beating coronavirus requires a global response
and sustained actions on many fronts. We need to develop a vaccine, to
produce it and deploy it to every corner of the world. And we need to
make it available at affordable prices.”
Researchers and innovators around the world are working very hard to find
solutions to save lives and protect our health. Starting on the 4 th of May, the Commission will register pledges from countries
and business foundations. The Commission is also inviting governments,
business leaders, public figures philanthropists, artists and citizens to
raise awareness about this global pledging effort. The funds collected will
be channelled into three strands: diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.
The countdown to the start of marathon begins today, the first day of the
2020 World Immunisation Week organised by the United Nations. The theme
this year is #VaccinesWork for All and the campaign will focus on how
vaccines, as well as the people who develop, deliver and receive them, work
to protect the health of everyone, everywhere.
Find out more about the effort and how to get involved on the Coronavirus
Global Response website:
europa.eu/Global-Response
Background
On 26 March, in an extraordinary meeting on the coronavirus outbreak, the
G20
agreed
to establish a global initiative on pandemic preparedness and response to
“act as a universal, efficient, sustained funding and coordination platform
to accelerate the development and delivery of vaccines, diagnostics and
treatments.”
On 24 April, the WHO and an initial group of global health actors launched
a landmark, global collaboration for the accelerated development,
production and equitable global access to new COVID-19 essential health
technologies. The group includes the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
(BMGF), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI), the Global Fund, UNITAID, the Wellcome Trust and the World Bank.
Together, they committed to the shared aim of equitable global access to
innovative tools to fight the COVID-19 virus for all. Read the joint call
to action
here
.
To respond to the joint call for action from health actors, the EU is
joining forces with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Saudi
Arabia to host a pledging conference. This follows the announcement by
President von der Leyen
on 15 April
that the Commission would organise an online pledging event to fund the
development of a vaccine against COVID-19.
In parallel, the Commission is committing hundreds of millions of euros in
research and innovation measures
to develop vaccines, new treatments, diagnostic tests and medical systems
to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.