76 rich countries join WHO vaccine alliance
Seventy-six wealthy nations have signed up to the World Health Organization's plan to help buy and fairly distribute any future coronavirus vaccine.
Japan, Germany and Norway are reportedly among them. That's according to the GAVI vaccines alliance, the public-private partnership that is co-leading the initiative with the WHO.
Its chief executive Seth Berkley, told Reuters that it's in talks with China about that country also joining.
The plan is called "COVAX" and it's designed to discourage national governments from hoarding vaccines and to focus first on vaccinating the most high-risk people in every country.
Its backers say it should lead to lower vaccine costs for everyone - and a swifter end to the pandemic.
Financing comes out of national budgets, and 92 poorer nations are contributing voluntary donations.
Participating wealthy countries are also free to procure vaccines through bilateral deals and other plans.
The United States has said this week that it won't join COVAX due to the Trump administration's objection to the involvement of the World Health Organization.
It's also said the U.S. won't be paying some of the $80 million it owes the World Health Organization as it plans to leave the agency next year.
Instead, it'll direct the money to help pay Washington's U.N. membership bill in New York.
