More than 150 countries sign up for global vaccine plan

More than 70 rich countries have signed up to a global coronavirus vaccine initiative intended to ensure that any effective shots are fairly distributed around world - but which may also allow m to buy more vaccines to stockpile for ir own citizens.

In a statement on Wednesday, vaccines alliance Gavi reported that 75 countries have said y would join its new “Covax facility” along with ar 90 low-income countries that hope to receive donated vaccines. Associated Press reported this week that Gavi initiative may allow rich countries to reinforce ir own coronavirus vaccine supplies while leaving fewer doses available for more vulnerable populations.

When Gavi approached dor countries last month, it vertised plan as an “insurance policy” for rich countries that have alrey struck deals with drugmakers for experimental COVID-19 vaccines.

Gavi told dor governments that when an effective iculation is found within its pool of COVID-19 candidates, all countries will receive eugh to cover 20% of ir populations, including rich countries that may have ir own stockpiles. It said countries would be encourd, but t required, to give up any doses y might t need.

“For vast majority of countries, wher y can afford to pay for ir own doses or require assistance, it means receiving a guaranteed share of doses and avoiding being pushed to back of queue," Gavi CEO Seth Berkley said in a statement.

Dozens of vaccines are being researched, and some countries — including Britain, France, Germany and United States — alrey have ordered hundreds of millions of doses before vaccines are even proven to work.

Critics say offering rich countries chance to buy even more vaccines through Gavi essentially allows m to hoard limited COVID-19 vaccines without consequences.

Gavi CEO Berkley ackwledged re was enforcement mechanism, but he said alliance would be speaking with rich countries to propose possible solutions.

Gavi said 165 countries that have expressed interest represent about 60% of world’s population. alliance is aiming to raise $2 billion to buy COVID-19 vaccines.