World Rushing To Find Vaccine After $8 Billion Pledge

By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – Donors have pledged 7.4 billion euros ($8 billion) for developing a vaccine against the new coronavirus disease COVID-19. But after the online-meeting with world leaders, banks and organizations, officials warned more money might be necessary.

The funds pledged at this week’s summit hosted by the European Union fell marginally short of the 7.5 billion euros being sought. However, in comments monitored by Worthy News, the president of the E.U.’s executive European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had already lowered expectations. She said up to” $8 billion may be raised. E.U. officials have also expressed concerns that some governments attempt to count the money that was already allocated to fight the pandemic.

The E.U. co-hosted Monday’s donors’ meeting with Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the European Commission.

Notably absent from Monday’s event was the United States, where more than 70,000 people have died, and Russia. Despite the shortfall, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it a “down-payment” in the global rush to find a vaccine, new treatments, and better tests.

He spoke as governments reported more than 3.5 million infections and over a quarter of a million corona-virus deaths globally. Health experts say most people were older and had underlying diseases that contributed to their deaths.

People in several countries, and notably in Europe this week, are cautiously returning to work. Authorities remain wary of the second wave of infections, and claim a vaccine is the only way to allow everyday life to resume. Protests have emerged against lockdowns and government intentions to make social distancing the new norm.

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