Bulgaria will give EUR 100,000 for Coronavirus Vaccine Development

The European Commission on May 4 organised a global donor online conference to raise funds for vaccine development and treatment for COVID-19. The aim is to raise at least € 7.5 billion.

In addition to the leaders of the EU member states, the global coalition to combat the coronavirus includes the UK, Canada, Israel, Switzerland, Japan, Turkey, African countries, and global organisations and non-governmental organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

One of the faces of the global campaign is Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov.

In a video address, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced that Bulgaria will contribute 100,000 euro to the global effort to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus.

He said that a crisis of this magnitude calls for a strong, coordinated, wide-ranging and coherent global response and solidarity among the partners, especially for those countries that have weaker health systems or which were the first to be struck by this new and unknown to humanity virus.

"We firmly support the work of the United Nations and all the international institutions engaged in the fight against the virus, and every day we bow to the actions of medical teams, laboratory assistants and all those working in the development of what matters most - the vaccine and the cure for COVID - 19. In Bulgaria, and on my behalf, we welcome what the EC is currently doing and we also want to contribute to the fight against the coronavirus with EUR 100,000 for the development of COVID-19 vaccine," he said.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister thanked all counterparts in the Commission who work very hard, all colleagues and countries who will join this initiative, and added that the development of the vaccine and medicines will take time and billions.

"Last but not least, I believe that this should make us learn our lessons too, and stock and re-stock the EU with protective clothing, masks, goggles and everything - tests, respirators, additional equipment and of course, training, qualification and protection of the medical personnel," Borissov said.