EU Commits $473 Million to WHO’s COVAX Initiative

The European Commission said Friday that it will put $473 million into the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVAX program aimed at procuring COVID-19 vaccines for lower- and middle- income countries.

The commission will contribute an initial $272 million, enough to contribute 88 million doses of vaccines to eligible countries, followed by an additional $201 million.

More than 170 countries have joined the COVAX initiative, which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The U.S. has not contributed to the initiative.