Donate Vaccines To Strengthen Covid-19 Fight, UNICEF Urges Germany, France, Five Others

As preparation heightens towards the G7 leaders’ summit, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has called on leaders to donate a minimum of 20 per cent of COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.

In an open letter on Wednesday, UNICEF Ambassadors stressed on the need for G7 world leaders to donate doses and ensure fair and equitable vaccine supply to low- and middle- income countries.

The G7 is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and European Union.

“The world has spent a year and a half battling the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus is still spreading in many countries and producing new variants with the potential to put us all back where we started.

“This means more school closures, more healthcare disruptions, and greater economic fallout – threatening the futures of families and children everywhere,” the letter reads.

The ambassadors warned that COVAX, the global initiative supporting poorer countries in gaining access to vaccines, is already facing a shortfall of 190 million doses.

They further proposed that, in order to help cover this shortfall, G7 countries should donate 20 per cent of their vaccines between June and August. This would translate into over 150 million doses and would serve as a temporary stop gap measure to compensate for this shortfall.

UNICEF also warned that without urgently ensuring fair and equitable access supply, the world will continue to be at risk of deadly virus mutations like the devastating second wave of COVID-19 sweeping across India and other South Asian countries including Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador I believe in the crucial benefit of vaccinations. The pandemic won’t be over until it’s over everywhere, so it’s vital that all communities around the world have fair access to Covid-19 vaccines urgently,” said David Beckham, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Similarly, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador said, “The crisis at home in India and across the region of South Asia is devastating.

“This deadly surge of Covid-19 is placing an enormous strain on health facilities across India, with hospital beds, essential medical supplies and oxygen running out.
“It’s also of huge concern to all of us at UNICEF to hear about children falling ill with this new variant, while many are also losing parents and left alone and at risk, unable to access critical health care, vaccinations and education.”