Your trusted source

The Biden administration is expected to propose an international summit focused on the Covid-19 pandemic response and global vaccination effort, POLITICO reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The summit would be timed around United Nations General Assembly meetings slated for the week of Sept. 20, and involve discussions aimed at better coordinating the world’s coronavirus fight across a range of areas.

Among the topics up for discussion are ways to improve vaccine manufacturing and distribution and ramp up the supplies of oxygen to countries in need, and the possibility of international cooperation on research and development related to Covid-19.

A senior administration official said that while Biden's schedule at the U.N. is still being firmed up, "it is safe to assume we are actively looking at Covid-19 and public-health centered options. I would anticipate there will be an opportunity for the president to engage with his counterparts on this issue."

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.