Geneva, Sept 30 (AFP/APP): Up to 100 million additional doses of any eventual Covid-19 vaccines will be secured for delivery to poorer countries in 2021, health groups announced Tuesday, as the virus showed no sign of receding after claiming more than one million lives around the world. The announcement doubles the number of doses already secured from the Serum Institute of India by the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, following an initial agreement last month. The public-private health partnership stressed that the eventual total is “potentially several times” greater, and said the price would be capped at $3 per dose. “No country, rich or poor, should be left at the back of the queue when it comes to Covid-19 vaccines; this collaboration brings us another step closer to achieving this goal,” Gavi chief Seth Berkley said. As nine vaccine candidates are in last-stage trials, the World Bank said Tuesday it had asked its board of directors to approve $12 billion to help poor countries purchase and distribute vaccines. A World Bank spokesman said that “the global economy will not recover fully until people feel they can live, socialize, work and travel with confidence.” As humanity … Continue reading Boost in vaccine doses planned for poor as virus rages on