On the origins of the COVID19 global response and what needs to be done now

The global pandemic response mechanism, ACT-A, now led by the World Health Organisation, started out as a Gates Foundation idea for a mechanism to procure vaccines. Only belatedly was support to health systems tacked on, increasing the price tag of the response to almost USD 50 billion. In an interview with Development Today, Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, says the real cost will be even higher.