Bill Gates urges world leaders to share Covid vaccines at G20 Health summit
Rome, May 21 (EFE).- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called for wealthy nations to share Covid vaccines with lower-income countries at risk at the opening of the G20 Health summit Friday.
“I hope the Rome declaration that will be agreed today will provide a set of principles and actions to support pandemic preparedness, which will guide future discussions,” said the philanthropist.
He acknowledged that many countries had delivered generous donations, but not enough to control the spread of the disease, especially in more vulnerable countries facing new waves of infections.
More than 80% of the first billion doses went to wealthy countries, he said, warning that deaths will continue to rise if the gap with low-income countries is not mended.
Gates urged leaders to share “dollars and doses,” to act with responsibility and to better prepare for the next sanitary crisis.
G20 world leaders and health ministers held a videoconference to reflect on the Covid-19 pandemic and discuss policies to prevent future crises.
The summit is hosted by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, with support from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It gathers politicians, scientists and civil society representatives.
Von der Leyen inaugurated the meeting announcing the EU plans to donate more than 100 million Covid-19 vaccines to vulnerable countries. EFE
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