The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is further committing to fight the global COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, the foundation announced a $125 million commitment to COVID-19 relief efforts during the Coronavirus Global Response Summit, a global pledging event hosted by nations across the world. The pledge includes $50 million on top of previously announced funding. All together, the summit raised about $8 billion, which will go toward the development and deployment of coronavirus treatments, diagnostics and vaccines.
“In order to beat COVID-19, the world needs more than great science. It needs great humanity, the commitment to help people beat this virus no matter where they live. This effort will help us do that,” Melinda Gates said in a statement. “With the collective resources and brainpower pledged today, we’ll finally be able to attack this virus in the way it is attacking us — globally. Our foundation is proud to support this critical work, and thanks the European Commission for convening the Global Response Conference.”
Of the $125 million pledged, $50 million will go to the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, which has the goal of providing vaccines to lower-income countries. This money from the Gates Foundation will help GAVI distribute COVID-19 vaccines to these areas once they become available.
The remainder includes $50 million in previously announced funding for the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator run by the Gates Foundation, and $25 million in previously announced funding for coronavirus diagnostics.
To date, the Gates Foundation has committed over $300 million to COVID-19 relief efforts.
