By Brian Niemietz

New York Daily News

The World Health Organization is asking leaders of its 194 member states to sign on to the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility agreement, which would commit wealthier countries to share COVID-19 inoculations with developing nations.

WHO is suggesting to the countries most likely to produce valuable research that sharing is for their own good, according to Reuters, which reports that the organization’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, worries that hording vaccines locally will extend the pandemic.

“We need to prevent vaccine nationalism,” Tedros reportedly said in a virtual WHO meeting. “Sharing finite supplies strategically and globally is actually in each country’s national interest.”

Tedros has set an Aug. 31 deadline for world leaders to sign the pact. Reuters reports that 80 wealthy nations and 92 poorer countries have so far expressed interest in participating, though other nations may be waiting to see the final terms of the agreement before committing to a plan.

There are at least 150 vaccines in development, but only a few are in late-stage trials. The agreement reportedly covers nine vaccine candidates.

Russia became the first country to claim victory in the search for a COVID-19 vaccine last week, though medical experts including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United’s States Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, are skeptical about the extent to which it’s been tested.

Nearly 22 million people have been infected by COVID-19, which continues to spread.