On 4 May, the European Commission will organise a virtual global donor conference to fill the funding gap for COVID-19 vaccine research and to facilitate its “global roll-out” when it is available, announced Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday 15 April. She specifically mentioned “vulnerable countries” (see EUROPE 12464/14).
“A vaccine, when we have one, is our best shot at beating the virus”, von der Leyen said, acknowledging that speeding up work on diagnostics and treatment also lies at the heart of international cooperation needed to improve pandemic preparedness.
The donor conference will aim “to close the immediate financing gap to come up with innovative solutions”, Mrs von der Leyen said, inviting all countries and organisations to participate.
Preparatory work has begun with the CEPI platform, GAVI (the Immunization Alliance), the Wellcome Trust, and the Bill Gates Foundation, and will be carried out in cooperation with WHO. The organisation of this conference was announced by Mrs von der Leyen at the last G20 summit with the specific intent of focusing on the roll out of immunisation in developing countries (see EUROPE 12457/14). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)