If the United States is the first to develop an effective vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19), it has to quickly share it with the world, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins, told AFP in an interview.
President Donald Trump’s administration has suggested that while it would share its scientific knowhow, it would prioritise the production of doses for the U.S. population from the get-go.
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But Mr. Collins said he “absolutely” agrees with the French and Chinese leaders that a vaccine should be what they have called a “global public good,” and expressed particular concern for countries in Africa.
“Certainly if we had a vaccine that works, I would want to be sure as quickly as possible, it is available there (Africa) and in South America — look at Brazil right now,” Mr. Collins said.
“We have a great deal of responsibility. We, as the richest nation in the world, need not to just take care of ourselves. That would be a terrible outcome.”
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NIH — one of the world’s top research centres with a $42 billion budget — is partnering with private companies in the frantic race to find a vaccine again