The European Commission will contribute four-hundred million euros to COVAX

The European Commission (EC) has declared that it will contribute four-hundred million euros to COVAX, the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 facility. The facility is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Vaccine Alliance and WHO. It has a mission to ensure equitable access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines across the world.

President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, stated: “Global collaboration is the only way to overcome a global pandemic. Under the Corona virus Global Response and the Global Goal Unite campaign, we have seen the world come together as one. Almost sixteen billion euros have been pledged so far and the most talented researchers and organisations are pooling their efforts to deliver vaccines, tests and treatments, which will be to our universal, common good. Today, the Commission is announcing a four-hundred million euros contribution to COVAX for working together in purchasing future vaccines to the benefit of low and middle income countries. I’m confident this will bring us closer to our goal – beating this virus together.”

Commissioner for international partnerships at the EC, Jutta Urpilainen, stated: “Only by securing equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine across the world will we end the pandemic and ensure a sustainable recovery, working with our partner countries is crucial so that we can build back up better and healthier.”