ROME: Finance and health ministers from G20 countries said on Friday they would take steps to ensure 70% of the world's population is vaccinated against Covid-19 by mid-2022 and created a task force to fight future pandemics. They could not reach agreement on a separate financing facility proposed by the US and Indonesia, but said the task force would explore options for mobilising funds to boost pandemic preparedness, prevention and response. "To help advance toward the global goals of vaccinating at least 40% of the population in all countries by the end of 2021 and 70% by mid-2022 ... we will take steps to help boost the supply of vaccines and essential medical products and inputs in developing countries and remove relevant supply and financing constraints," the G20 ministers said in a communique. They also pledged to support "all collaborative efforts" to provide access to safe, affordable, quality and effective vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. They gave no specific details.
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