New support to help vulnerable countries tackle Omicron

We welcome the UK‘s commitment to new funding to protect the most vulnerable, particularly in Africa.

LONDON, UK, December 30, 2021 / APO Group / –

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has pledged up to £ 105 million in emergency aid from the UK to help vulnerable countries tackle the Omicron Covid-19 variant, with a particular focus on Africa.

Vital aid will be delivered through trusted partners and:

Scaling up testing, especially in parts of Africa where testing rates for Covid-19 remain the lowest, allowing healthcare systems to track and respond to the spread of the virus more effectively. This is in addition to the UK’s world leading genomic sequencing support. Improve access to oxygen supplies for ventilators: An increase in oxygen demand is a significant risk for some countries. Provide communities with hygiene tips, products, and access to hand-washing facilities and support deep cleaning in schools, health centers, and other public places. This will build on the successful global hygiene campaign between UK aid and Unilever, which has reached over 1.2 billion people since its launch in 2020. Funding UK pioneering science and research on spreading variants like Omicron to enable innovative evidence-based policy. responses in low- and middle-income countries. Prepare the UK’s own expert emergency teams for deployment abroad at critical crisis points, including with new medical teams.

The government also confirmed today that more than 30 million vaccines have so far been delivered as part of the UK’s commitment to donate 100 million doses to the world, benefiting more than 30 countries.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

“The UK is providing vital assistance to help tackle the spread of new variants around the world. This is key to securing our freedom and ending this pandemic once and for all.”

“I am proud that we have also delivered over 30 million vaccines to benefit our friends around the world this year. The UK is helping other countries in need. No one is safe until everyone is safe.”

The doses donated by the United Kingdom have reached four continents and have provided vital protection against Covid-19 in countries such as Angola, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Malawi, Nepal and Rwanda.

Of the more than 30 million doses donated now, COVAX has received 24.6 million for shipment to countries and 5.5 million have been shared directly with countries in need, including Kenya, Jamaica and Indonesia.

In 2022, millions more vaccines will be shipped to other countries, including 20 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca and 20 million doses of Janssen.

The UK has been at the forefront of the global response to Covid-19. Today’s announcement builds on the £ 1.3 billion in aid from the UK committed to the international health response at the onset of the pandemic, supporting vaccines, health systems and economic recovery in developing countries.

The government also invested more than £ 88 million to support the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with the UK today becoming the first country in the world to approve the jab a year ago.

Thanks to AstraZeneca’s commitment to distribute the vaccine on a non-profit basis, 2.5 billion doses have been used in more than 170 countries, two-thirds of which are low- and middle-income countries.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

“The global pandemic has challenged health systems around the world and the best way to overcome this terrible disease is to unite and stand alongside our international partners.

“By supporting countries with UK groundbreaking science and variant spread research, improving access to oxygen and expanding testing, we will help those most in need chart their course out of the pandemic.

“I am proud that we have already delivered over 30 million vaccines to our friends abroad. The UK, as a world leader, is helping other countries that need it most. No one is safe until everyone is safe.” .

Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, said:

“We welcome the UK’s commitment to new funding to protect the most vulnerable, particularly in Africa; the UK’s continued focus on COVAX and equitable global access to COVID19 vaccines, both through early funding commitments. assumed at the UNGA 2020, as well as when complying with the G7 Commitment with the distribution of doses: the goal of 30 million established by the end of 2021.

“We look forward to implementing the remainder of the UK dose distribution commitment through COVAX in 2022, whilst also working with the UK government to continue to support Gavi’s ambitious routine 2021-2025 vaccination programs, from of which the United Kingdom is the largest funder through the commitment of the Prime Minister made at the World Summit on Vaccines organized by the United Kingdom in June 2020. “