Seth Berkley

The Covax vaccine programme secured another $2.4 billion from donors on June 2, but underlined it was still struggling to get enough doses to help poorer countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scheme is trying to get enough vaccines for 30 percent of the population in 92 of the poorest participating territories - 20 percent in India - with donors covering the cost.

The prestigious journal Science on Feb. 18 published an editorial calling for a global effort to develop a universal coronavirus vaccine that would remain effective against other members of the same virus family that might cross over to humans.

Governments around the world on June 4 pledged $8.8 billion for global vaccines alliance Gavi to help immunisation programmes disrupted by coronavirus, prompting calls for global cooperation to ensure a potential COVID-19 vaccine is available to all.