Canada has defended its decision to draw on a supply of coronavirus vaccines from a global inoculation-sharing initiative known as Covax. Covax pools funds from wealthier countries to help buy vaccines for themselves and low-income nations. The scheme has announced a plan to deliver more than 330 million vaccine doses in the first half of 2021. Canada is the only member of the G7 group of rich countries listed as a Covax beneficiary at this stage. Other wealthier countries, including New Zealand and Singapore, have requested an early allocation as well. Most of the first doses available, though, will be delivered to low- and middle-income countries. Many of those countries haven’t even started vaccinations. Meanwhile, Canada has vaccinated 2.29% of its population with one dose, including 48% of health workers, government data shows.(BBC)…[+]