USA stay a member of the WHO and be part of the Covid vaccination plan

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases.

Patrick Semansky | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The US will remain a member of the World Health Organization under President Joe Biden, said Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday and intends to join a global alliance that aims to deliver coronavirus vaccines to low-income countries.

One day after Biden took office, US Chief Medical Officer Fauci spoke to the WHO Executive Board via videoconference from Washington: “President Biden will later today issue a directive stating the United States’ intention to join COVAX and support ACT. ” – Accelerators to advance multilateral efforts for Covid-19 vaccine distribution, therapeutic and diagnostic distribution, equitable access, and research and development. “

The US will remain a member of WHO, the United Nations health agency, and “meet its financial commitments,” said Fauci. He added that Biden’s government plans to work with the other 193 member states to help reform the group.

“This is a good day for WHO and a good day for global health,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“We’re all happy that the United States is staying with the family,” Tedros said on Twitter.

WHO delegates “warmly” welcomed the decision, and many underlined their appreciation that the new government would now attempt to reunite with the international aid group in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Fauci, America’s foremost infectious disease expert, accepted Biden’s offer to join his administration and serve as chief medical officer last month. He will lead a US delegation to WHO’s annual meetings during the week.