"G7's Global Vaccination Goal: Donating at Least 1 Billion Vaccine Doses by 2023"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) have agreed to donate at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide by 2023. As wealthy countries that had previously monopolized vaccines move to share them with the international community, there is growing hope that vaccine disparities between countries will be resolved.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the host country of this year's G7 summit, announced on the 10th (local time), a day before the meeting's opening, that "we will vaccinate the entire world by the end of next year," according to reports from AP News and others.

The seven countries?United Kingdom, United States, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada?will hold the summit from the 11th to the 13th in Cornwall, UK.

Prime Minister Johnson stated, "The G7 is expected to agree at the summit to increase COVID-19 vaccine production and supply at least 1 billion doses worldwide through international distribution plans."

Among these, the UK plans to first provide 5 million surplus vaccine doses by September and donate at least 100 million doses by next year. Of these, 80% will be delivered through COVAX, the international project led by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the joint purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who is visiting the UK to attend the summit, also held a press conference on the same day and announced, "We will donate 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccines worldwide, focusing on low-income countries."

President Biden explained, "We are sharing Pfizer vaccines without any conditions or pressure for reciprocation. The sole purpose is to save lives and end the pandemic."

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the U.S. stance at a press conference and added, "I believe the European Union (EU) also needs to have ambitions at least at the same level as the United States."

Developed countries have faced criticism for monopolizing vaccines by prioritizing their own citizens. However, as vaccination rates have surpassed 50% and reached a certain level, they have begun joint efforts within the international community to overcome the infectious disease.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.