World Bank/Henitsoa Rafalia/Flickr cc As the global COVID-19 total topped 75 million cases today and immunization gained traction in a handful of developed countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) today announced new deals with companies to ensure that poorer countries start receiving doses in the first half of 2021. More funding needed Global health officials have feared that richer nations could snap up much of the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, and since the early days of the pandemic, the WHO and its partners, including the GAVI vaccine alliance, have been pushing forward with COVAX, a plan to support the development of new vaccines and secure doses for participating countries.