Coronavirus: Bill Gates calls for global agreements on masks, treatments and vac

[sirty143]

Coronavirus: Bill Gates calls for global agreements on masks, treatments and vaccines

© EFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images Bill Gates, Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and founder or Microsoft - EFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has issued an urgent call for world leaders to come together to fight Covid-19 and ensure that protective equipment, new treatments and vaccines are equitably distributed.

The move comes amid fears that a vacuum in global leadership will prolong the pandemic and greatly magnify its human and economic toll.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Gates, calls for a “global approach” to fighting the disease and warns if the virus is left to spread through developing nations unhindered it will rebound and hit richer nations in subsequent waves.

“The virus doesn’t care about borders” he writes. “Even if wealthy nations succeed in slowing the disease over the next few months, Covid-19 could return if the pandemic remains severe enough elsewhere.

“It is likely only a matter of time before one part of the planet re-infects another”.

Two weeks ago, a virtual-meeting of the G20 broke up without agreement after the US insisted on references to “Wuhan virus” being included in any communiqué.

This stands in contrast to the role the international body played in the 2008 financial crisis, when its coordinated actions are credited with mitigating the impact of the crash.

Mr Gates - who has long warned of a pandemic - has called on world leaders to reconvene and agree three actions now.

“The first is making sure the world’s resources for fighting this pandemic are allocated effectively - things like masks, gloves, and diagnostic tests”, he says.

“I’m a big believer in capitalism - but some markets simply don’t function properly in a pandemic, and the market for lifesaving supplies is an obvious example”.

Secondly, he calls on leaders to commit the necessary research and development funding to develop a vaccine.

There are “at least eight potential vaccines for Covid-19” in development but a further $2 billion is needed if they are to be delivered within 18 months.

“That would be the fastest humans have ever gone from seeing a brand new pathogen to developing a vaccine against it,” he says.

Last, Gates calls on the G20 to think now about how vaccines will be manufactured and distributed now.

“We aren’t sure which vaccines will be the most effective yet, and each requires unique technology to make. That means nations need to invest in many different kinds of manufacturing facilities now, knowing that some will never be used. Otherwise, we’ll waste months after the lab develops an immunization, waiting for the right manufacturer to scale up,” he writes.

There are concerns that “vaccine nationalism” could grip the world unless international agreements are made ahead of their arrival on how they will be distributed.

Now may be an opportune moment to broker an “equitable distribution” agreement because no nation knows who will produce a vaccine first.

“Most G20 countries do not have vaccine manufacturing capacity and no country knows for sure it will have that facility for Covd-19”, said Dr Richard Hatckett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi).

The former foreign secretary, Lord William Lord Hague, also called for global action. Writing in The Telegraph on Monday he warned of an “extraordinary absence of global leadership” and urged politicians to “champion a global framework to solve the world’s problems together”.

Todaythe Department of International Development pledged a further £200m of UK aid to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic and prevent a second wave of the virus.

It brings the total amount of UK aid committed to the global fight against coronavirus to £744 million - one of the largest contributions worldwide.

Source: msn.com

Your opinion is greatly appreciated.

[mlawson71]

This is a global problem and needs to be tackled globally.

[tonymillions84]

what do we have to say about the recent fake mask distributed by china. i am against the current arangment of testing the vaccine in Africa as been expressed by some french doctors. what ever plans they have should be applied in the countries that were worst hit. i believe that china is guilty of this virus.

[mlawson71]

This pandemic is a global problem and has to be combatted globally too.

[Grirdred]

This corona virus is very threatening to the world, If the supper power nations lack the equipment to assist the patients, what about the developing nations? The World Health Organisation told the African countries to prepare for the worst, meaning they have seen the dangers of this virus. No cure has been found at the moment.

[mlawson71]

That's what worries me too. Countries are competing for materials.

[Miowyk88]

The problem with this is that it involves the whole world just out of greed and maybe manage the vaccine as if it were a mafia.

[ShadowCrypto]

He is doing some right moves, the governments should stay together during this situation but we can see that is no happening, really sad.

[JorohMa]

I agree to follow all safety rules: wear a mask, disinfect hands and goods brought from stores, but I do not agree to vaccinate.

[mlawson71]

I, personally, can't wait for a vaccine to come out. I just hope it will be both safe and effective.

[babu10]

I, personally, can't wait for a vaccine to come out. I just hope it will be both safe and effective.

Yes, i think vaccine will be best forever. Because community transmission is very dangerous for this virus and it can not prevent 100% with gloves and mask. So we have to think for long time cure policy and vaccine can be our faith here.

[mlawson71]

True. The long-term solution is a vaccine but who knows how long we need to wait for that.

[Roobet]

There are so many conspiracy theories and opinions around this theory that it is best to conduct yourself in a way that suits you and keeps you safe.

[mlawson71]

I think it's as important to keep others safe too, not just oneself.

[Knightenno]

Gates is trying to help but he can't help everyone, there will still be victims