World leaders and organizations have pledged $ 8 billion to research, manufacture and distribute vaccine and potential treatments for COVID-19, but the United States has refused to contribute to the global effort.
Among the organizers are the European Union and non-European countries, the United Kingdom, Norway and Saudi Arabia.
Leaders of Japan, Canada, South Africa and dozens of other countries joined the virtual event on Monday, while China, where the virus is believed to have originated, was only represented by its ambassador to the European Union.
Governments aim to continue raising funds for several weeks or months, building on the efforts of the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and wealthy individuals, and turning the page on the initial, fragmented and random response to the epidemic worldwide.
"In just a few hours, we have collectively pledged € 7.4 billion ($ 8.1 billion) for vaccine, diagnosis and treatment" against COVID-19, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said after presiding over the event on the Internet.
"This will help launch unprecedented global cooperation," she added.
European Union officials said it was unclear what new funding was, as commitments made earlier this year could also be included.
Von der Lin said that the donors included pop singer Madonna, who had pledged 1 million euros ($ 1.08 million).
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has recovered from a life-threatening battle with COVID-19, said the search for a vaccine was "the most urgent common endeavor of our lives," calling for an "impenetrable shield around all our people."
EU diplomats said the United States, which has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the world, has not participated.
A senior administration official declined to say why the United States was not specifically involved.
"We support these pledge efforts by the European Union. It is one of the many pledges efforts under way and the United States is in the lead," the official told reporters by phone.
President Donald Trump said last month that he would cut funding to the World Health Organization, whose Director-General addressed the conference, on its treatment of the epidemic.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said she regrets this decision, as did Washington's absence on Monday.
"It is unfortunate that the United States is not part of it. When you are in crisis you are managing it and doing so jointly with others," Solberg told Reuters news agency in an interview, and pledged $ 1 billion to support the distribution of any developed vaccine against COVID-19 and vaccines against other diseases.
"We have had many discussions with our American partners and I am convinced that the Americans will ultimately stick to this dynamic because it is the way of the future for the world," French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Global reach
Many leaders emphasized that any vaccine should be available to everyone. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that it should not be limited to rich countries.
Macron said: "Those who invent it will of course pay somewhat, but access to people all over the world will be given by the organization that we choose."
European Union officials have said that the drug companies that receive the funding will not be required to waive intellectual property rights in new vaccines and treatments, but must commit to making them available worldwide at affordable prices.
The goal of $ 8 billion was in line with expectations, but it is just an initial figure. Von der Lahn said more money is needed over time.
The European Union Commission said the Global Readiness Monitoring Authority, a UN-backed body focused on health crises, estimates that $ 3 billion of the $ 8 billion needed will be spent immediately to develop, manufacture and distribute a possible vaccine against COVID-19. .
Another $ 2.25 billion is needed to develop treatments for COVID-19, $ 750 million for test kits, and another $ 750 million to store protective equipment, such as face masks. The remaining $ 1.25 billion will be allocated to the World Health Organization to support the most vulnerable countries.
The United Kingdom will hold an online donor summit on June 4 for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
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