ACT Accelerator, or the “Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator” in full, is the UN-launched group of countries and organisations overseeing the development, production and equitable distribution of affordable Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. “The accelerator is all about an integrated end-to-end solution to the pandemic,” Dr Aylward told a regular UN briefing in Geneva. Monday saw a meeting of the ACT Accelerator Facilitation Council, a body tasked with mulling the political and financial difficulties that will need to be overcome, Dr Aylward said. Raising $28 billion was a real challenge in the current fiscal environment, but it made sense to tackle the problem head-on, Dr Aylward said. However, it would be a mistake to raid ODA to finance ACT Accelerator, he said, because it would deprive vital funds from other areas, such as malaria, HIV and antenatal care.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 16, 2020 07:18 UTC