In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the most difficult phase has begun, the global logistical challenge unprecedented in extent and complexity that will lead to the production and distribution of vaccines. But the operation will only be successful if all countries, not just the rich, have access to vaccines. The risk is that efforts in this direction will slow down, despite the commitments made at the beginning of the health crisis. To facilitate the delicate process, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation puts on the table another 250 million dollars in order to support the research, development and fair distribution of all life-saving tools against Covid-19. And it asks the countries that are part of the vaccine alliance - Gavi Covax - for more contributions to ensure sufficient doses for developing countries. In particular,
Bill and Melinda Gates: Treatments and vaccines for all who need them
Thanks to the ingenuity of the global scientific community - said Bill Gates, co-president of the Foundation - we have achieved the important breakthroughs necessary to put an end to the pandemic. We have more drugs and potential vaccines than we could anticipate at the beginning of the year. But these innovations will only save lives if they reach everywhere ». The real issue now, said Co-President Melinda Gates, is the commitment "of world leaders to make tests, treatments and vaccines available to all who need them, regardless of where they live and regardless of income".
The most expensive phase is now opening
The next phase in the fight against Covid-19, in fact, explained to Il Sole 24 Ore Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, will be “more expensive than the initial development of the vaccine. Our commitment today is only a fraction of what is necessary. International organizations, national governments, businesses and philanthropists all need to make sure that tests, treatments and vaccines reach as many people as possible. '
The largest single contribution to the fight against Covid-19
The 250 million dollars represent the largest single contribution made so far by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a sum that brings the total commitments made by the Foundation in the fighting the pandemic. «The good news - began Suzman commenting on the commitment from the Seattle headquarters - is that we have the first, exciting results of the vaccines and that administration has started in Great Britain. In addition, there are many other vaccines already in the testing phase in the pipeline ».
Covax: two billion doses by 2021
In 2021 the world will focus on production and distribution, which must be "efficient, low-cost and fair," added the manager. To this end, the Gavi Covax Advance Market Commitment (Amc) intervenes, the facility created to accelerate the financing and distribution of vaccines in the poorest countries, to which Italy is also an important donor, having joined pledged, so far, to contribute a total of $ 635 million. Covax has set itself the goal of procuring two billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by 2021, half of which will go to the 92 poorest economies.
Insufficient funding for developing countries
"However, we are worried - said Suzman - because in order to cover about 20% of the population of developing countries, Gavi-Covax must have at least 5 billion available while so far the funding has amounted to two billion". The commitment made by many pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca but not Moderna, Suzman recalled, is to make vaccines available in the poorest countries at a price that does not exceed the cost of production (not for profit pricing). But we must go further and the appeal is for a direct contribution to Covax by the richest countries that have so far only donated a fraction of the massive budget invested to provide vaccine doses to their own population. Suzman hopes that Joe Biden's administration, after Trump did not join the Covax platform,
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