U.S. Joins WHO’s ACT Accelerator Program to Help Global Pandemic Response

The U.S. has joined the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator program, a global effort to speed development and production of coronavirus vaccines, treatments and tests, and to help lower-income nations obtain them.

The WHO claims that the program is still in need of at least $26 billion to achieve its goals of delivering COVID-19 drugs and diagnostics to low- and middle-income countries. Congress has already allocated $4 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is co-leading the initiative’s main vaccine pillar, COVAX, and the Biden administration is expected to contribute more in the way of funding. The COVAX initiative aims to deliver 2 billion vaccine doses by the end of the year.

Three weeks ago, President Biden signed executive orders that reversed the previous administration’s move to leave the WHO, retaining the U.S.’ membership in the organization. And Anthony Fauci, head of the U.S. delegation to the WHO, detailed at that time that the U.S. will resume regular engagement of federal government personnel with the international body. He also said that the U.S. “intends to fulfill its financial obligations to the organization.”

Prior to the freeze in funding, the U.S. was by far the largest contributor to the WHO. The disparity between the $400 million to $500 million the U.S. paid annually and the significantly lower contributions from other countries, notably China, was a key reason former President Trump cited in his decision to withdraw from the body.

The U.S. was reportedly on the hook to pay $553 million in membership dues and voluntary contributions to the WHO for the 2020-21 period. — James Miessler