Group of 20 leaders call for global coronavirus vaccine access as U.S. labs near approval

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Sun, 2020-11-22 16:00 — mike kraft

Group of 20 leaders call for global coronavirus vaccine access as U.S. labs near approval The opening day of the virtual G-20 summit drew contrasts with Trump’s go-it-alone approach. Miriam Berger Washington Post

BEIRUT — Leaders from the Group of 20 nations urged greater global cooperation Saturday to ensure coronavirus vaccines reach beyond the wealthiest regions as promising U.S. vaccines appear closer to approval.

The comments draw clear contrasts with the Trump administration’s go-it-alone approach, including its break with the World Health Organization. The appeals also struck at questions over whether U.S.-made vaccines would become widely available beyond commercial deals once President-elect Joe Biden takes office — even as the United States struggles with the world’s highest death toll from the coronavirus.

With leaders connecting by video link — and Saudi Arabia as the host — attention quickly turned to vaccines as promising results from U.S.-based labs Pfizer and Moderna raise hopes of additional weapons soon against the pandemic, with China and Russia planning expansion beyond trials of their vaccines.

In brief comments to the group, President Trump said the United States has “marshaled every resource” against the coronavirus and noted the “record-setting speed” to develop vaccines and other therapies, according to a White House summary of the remarks.

He made no pledges, however, on expanding the availability of U.S. vaccines.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China was “willing to strengthen cooperation” with other countries to accelerate vaccine development and distribution....

China has opened trials for several state-backed vaccines in nations from Southeast Asia to Latin America. It also has become a leading backer of international vaccine collaborations such as Covax, a WHO-linked effort to expand vaccine distribution in the developing world. Trump had refused to join Covax as his administration pulls away from the United Nation’s public health agency.

Pfizer and Moderna have focused on eventual domestic distribution under the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed program. The European Union and other wealthy allies have cut separate deals for supplies of vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, which has teamed up with Germany-based BioNTech.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country is ready to share its vaccines for “humanitarian considerations,” warning that the pandemic is battering the global economy and raising risks of “mass, long-term unemployment and the accompanying rise in poverty and social dislocation.” ...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the meeting that the G-20 should endorse “affordable and fair distribution of covid-19 vaccine for everyone.” Similar messages were shared by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said all nations should have “equitable and affordable access.” ...

Also see: Saudi minister highlights ‘huge’ strains on global education as G-20 tackles pandemic

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