E.U. pledges to share more than 200 COVID-19 vaccines with low- and middle-income countries by 2021
Ensuring the access of Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to all, the European Union (E.U.) announced to share more than 200 million doses with low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2021.
The sharing of vaccine will be done via COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and others.
It is one of the three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, an initiative begun in April 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission, and the Government of France as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVAX aims to coordinate international resources to enable the equitable access of COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and COVID-19 vaccines.
Taking it to twitter, President of European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen tweeted,
I'm glad to announce that we will be sharing more than 200 million doses of #COVID19 vaccines with low-and middle-income countries by the end of this year.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 22, 2021
#TeamEurope takes its responsibility in helping the world fight the virus, everywhere.https://t.co/PNFiwxyBMU pic.twitter.com/NuOmsHBenJ
Earlier on May 21, 2021, during the Global Health Summit in Rome, Ursula announced to share 100 million doses of vaccine with low- and middle-income countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Ursula said, “Team Europe takes its responsibility in helping the world fight the virus, everywhere. Vaccination is key – that’s why it is essential to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines to countries worldwide. We will be sharing more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with low and middle-income countries by the end of this year.”
Apart from this, Team also Europe has launched an initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa. Team Europe had agreed in July, 2021 to support large-scale investment in vaccine production by the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, alongside other support measures.
The new manufacturing plant will reduce Africa’s 99% dependence on vaccine imports and strengthen future pandemic resilience in the continent. It will also help create right conditions for local vaccine manufacturing in Africa, backed by € 1 billion from the E.U. budget and the European development finance institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The E.U. is also driving the Coronavirus Global Response and the creation of the ACT-Accelerator, the world’s facility for access to COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and treatments. As most of the underdeveloped economies find it hard to build their own capabilities, owing to huge investments they require, getting vaccine from developed economy will actually hep them contain the COVId-19 outbreak.
