G7 leaders increase support for Covax scheme

G7 leaders have pledged to intensify co-operation on Covid-19 and increase their contribution to the Covax vaccine-sharing initiative.

In a joint statement released after a virtual summit on Friday, G7 leaders raised their overall commitment to $7.5bn (£5.3bn).

Wealthy countries are facing growing pressure to make sure lower-income nations get fair access to vaccines.

President Joe Biden has pledged $4bn in US aid to the fund and the EU doubled its contribution from €500m to €1bn.

Germany pledged an additional $1.2bn with Chancellor Angela Merkel telling journalists: “I stressed in my intervention that the pandemic is not over until all people in the world have been vaccinated.”

The Covax scheme is aiming to get at least 1.3 billion vaccine doses to vulnerable populations worldwide in the coming months.

BBC/Mercy Chukwudiebere