WORLD LEADERS URGE G7 TO HELP VACCINATE THE POOREST

LONDON: Over 200 world leaders, including former presidents, prime ministers and ministers have backed a campaign urging the G7 rich nations to help vaccinate the world’s poorest from low-income economies against Covid-19 by paying two-thirds of an estimated $66bn required.

A letter, seen by The Guardian newspaper ahead of the G7 summit to be hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Cornwall starting this Friday, warns the leaders of the UK, the US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada that fewer than 2% of people in sub-Saharan Africa have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

It is the first time the G7 leaders are meeting since the start of the pandemic. The three-day summit will cover a range of issues, but focus on global recovery from Covid-19.