The Group of 20 (G20) leading industrialized nations plan to set up a financing mechanism to prepare for future pandemics, according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
They aim to lay the foundations to ensure that the world is better equipped for any future pandemics, Merkel said on Saturday after talks during the first day of the summit.
She said a financial facility would be set up to this end, which could also be used to strengthen the World Health Organization (WHO).
Merkel also voiced her backing for the G20’s plan to vaccinate 40 per cent of the world’s population against Covid-19 by the end of the year and 70 per cent by the middle of next year.
“I support that,” she said. Germany wants to pass on 100 million vaccine doses this year and another 75 million next year, Merkel said.
Text by Oliver Weiken, and photo: Courtesy © dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH www.dpa.com