G20 leaders agree to take steps to boost Covid vaccine supply to developing nations

"Recognizing that vaccines are among the most important tools against the pandemic, and reaffirming that extensive Covid-19 immunization is a global public good, we will advance our efforts to ensure timely, equitable and universal access to safe, affordable, quality and effective vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, with particular regard to the needs of low- and middle-income countries," the document read.

"To help advance toward the global goals of vaccinating at least 40 percent of the population in all countries by the end of 2021 and 70 percent by mid-2022 ... we will take steps to help boost the supply of vaccines and essential medical products and inputs in developing countries and remove relevant supply and financing constraints," the communique added.

According to the final declaration, the G20 leaders also supported setting up a task force dealing with health and finance issues to strengthen the cooperation for preventing and combating pandemics, at the summit in Rome.

"We establish a G20 Joint Finance-Health Task Force aimed at enhancing dialogue and global cooperation on issues relating to pandemic PPR, promoting the exchange of experiences and best practices, developing coordination arrangements between Finance and Health Ministries, promoting collective action, assessing and addressing health emergencies with cross-border impact," the communique read.