Australia pledges $352million towards EU-led hunt for a coronavirus vaccine (and even Madonna is chipping in!)
- Australia pledged $352million to an EU-led coronavirus vaccine research fund
- Most of the money will go to vaccine research projects within Australia
- Donors included pop singer Madonna, who pledged 1 million euros to the fund
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Australia has pledged $352million to a European Commission-led coronavirus vaccine research fund.
The prime minister stumped up the cash at a fundraising conference attended by world leaders overnight.
Nearly $12.7billion has been raised so far.
Australia has pledged $352million to a European Commission-led coronavirus vaccine research fund. A volunteer is pictured being injected with an experimental vaccine in the UK
'COVID-19 is putting us all to the test and it is a test we are all rising to,' Scott Morrison said.
Most of the Australian money will go to local vaccine research projects at the CSIRO, Doherty Institute and the University of Queensland.
Two European research institutes will receive $15million from Australia to develop a vaccine and diagnostic tools.
Mr Morrison said Australian researchers were already working with international partners to develop a vaccine.
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'This is a great shared project by the peoples of the world with a clear purpose to find that vaccine,' he said.
The prime minister said Australia's development programs were moving to help local Pacific and Southeast Asian nations to fight coronavirus.
'I know we're all hurting and grieving for what has been lost,' Mr Morrison said.
Donors included pop singer Madonna, who pledged 1 million euros, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said
'But out of our grief and sadness comes a strong determination to beat this virus by working together.'
Organisers included the European Union and non-EU countries Britain, Norway and Saudi Arabia. Leaders from Japan, Canada, South Africa and dozens of other countries joined the virtual event, while China, where the virus is believed to have originated, was only represented by its ambassador to the European Union.
Governments aim to continue raising funds for several weeks or months, building on efforts by the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and wealthy individuals, and turn the page on the fractious and haphazard initial response around the world.
Donors included pop singer Madonna, who pledged 1 million euros, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has recovered from a life-threatening battle with COVID-19, said the search for a vaccine was 'the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetime', calling for 'an impregnable shield around all our people'.
EU diplomats said the United States, which has the world's most confirmed COVID-19 cases, was not taking part.
A senior U.S. administration official declined to say specifically why the United States was not participating.
'We support this pledging effort by the EU. It is one of many pledging efforts that are going on and the United States is at the forefront,' the official told reporters by telephone.
President Donald Trump said last month that he would halt funding to the World Health Organization, whose director general addressed the conference, over its handling of the pandemic.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said she regretted that decision, as well as Washington's absence on Monday.
'It is a pity the U.S. is not a part of it. When you are in a crisis, you manage it and you do it jointly with others,' Solberg told Reuters in an interview, pledging $1 billion to support the distribution of any vaccine developed against COVID-19, and for vaccines against other diseases.
'We've had several discussions with our American partners and I'm convinced the Americans will eventually commit to this dynamic because it's the way forward for the world,' French President Emmanuel Macron said.
