Biden to call for global summit on Covid response

President Joe Biden is likely to call for the summit as part of a broader speech on Thursday detailing new initiatives designed to end the pandemic. Though Biden is expected to focus much of his speech on the domestic coronavirus response, people familiar with the matter said he will also emphasize the need for greater global cooperation and work toward addressing inequities in developing countries.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The Washington Post first reported plans for the summit.

The Biden administration has notified some countries that it plans to propose the conference, one person familiar with the matter said, but has yet to send out formal invitations. It was also unclear on Wednesday whether the U.S. would make additional commitments to donate vaccine doses abroad, though the possibility was discussed in recent days.

The White House has for months touted its commitment to ending the pandemic around the globe, and vowed to make the U.S. an “arsenal of vaccines” for the world.

Still, global health experts have criticized the administration for not taking more aggressive steps to help developing nations rapidly vaccinate front-line workers and their most vulnerable.