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A consignment of 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines donated by Ireland arrived in Nigeria today. This is the first consignment of vaccines donated by Ireland through the COVAX facility. The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, noted that this is Ireland’s second significant vaccine donation in recent month’s following the recent delivery to Uganda.

Minister Donnelly said: “Following Ireland’s recent direct donation of over 300,000 vaccines to Uganda, I welcome the first deliveries of vaccine doses donated through the COVAX process. This significant donation of 500,000 vaccines to Nigeria represents Ireland’s continued commitment to universal access to COVID-19 vaccines and their fair and equitable distribution as we work together to bring this global pandemic under control.”

Minister for Overseas Development Aid and the Diaspora, Colm Brophy T.D., said: “I believe that everyone should have access to a COVID-19 vaccine, no matter where they live. As we know from our own experience, vaccines significantly reduce risk of serious illness. Improving the numbers of people vaccinated worldwide is essential to getting the pandemic under control. Ireland has a longstanding relationship with Nigeria and we are happy to support their efforts to keep their people safe. We have committed to sharing 1.3 million vaccine doses with other countries through COVAX as we play our part in the global response to this pandemic.”

The donation of 500,000 Janssen vaccines form part of Ireland’s commitment to donate 1.3 million vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility this year as part of a major scale up of the global vaccination campaign.

The single dose Janssen vaccines will support the national vaccine rollout in Nigeria where the vaccination rate is below 2%. The WHO had indicated that a global vaccination rate of 70% is needed by mid-2022 if we are to stem the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of further mutations in the virus.

COVAX was established as the collaborative mechanism to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines everywhere, and with a particular emphasis upon improving access for low- and middle-income countries.

In addition to the 1.3 million doses of vaccine Ireland has committed to sharing, Ireland has committed €7 million in financial support for COVAX. The facility is showing significant results, delivering over 500 million vaccine doses to 144 participants worldwide. Over 80% of vaccines that have been delivered to low income countries have been facilitated via the COVAX Facility.

Further vaccine donations through the COVAX Facility will be made in the coming weeks. ENDS//

Notes to editors

• COVAX is a global solution to this pandemic and will ensure that people in all corners of the world will get access to COVID-19 vaccines once they are available, regardless of their wealth. For lower-income funded nations, who would otherwise be unable to afford vaccines, COVAX is a lifeline.
• Coordinated by Gavi - the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO, COVAX acts as a platform that will support the research, development and manufacturing of a wide range of COVID-19 vaccine candidates, and negotiate their pricing. All participating countries, regardless of income levels, will have equal access to these vaccines once they are developed. The initial aim is to have 2 billion doses available by the end of 2021, which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers.