Merkel: virus challenge must be answered by all

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters on Sunday in Berlin after the virtual G-20 summit that "COVID-19 is a global challenge that can only be answered by all".

The chancellor said the G-20 participants had talked about the need for justice and a fair global distribution of possible vaccines in the battle against the pandemic.

"Fortunately, there's now hope for vaccines," Merkel said adding that "it is important that not only Europe secures vaccine, as the European Union is doing it now, but ... that it is important for the entire world" to have access to vaccines.

Merkel said Germany had given financial support to the Covax vaccination initiative that's meant to bring the vaccines to poor countries, too, but that more money was needed.

However, despite missing financial means for Covax, Merkel said: "The most important thing now is that Covax starts negotiating with the producers of potential vaccines based on the money it already has."

Merkel added that she was worried that those negotiations hadn't really started yet.