Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined hands with World Health Organization (WHO) and donates 100,000 euros from her foundation to the Covax scheme aiming at global access to covid-19 vaccine.
The donation will support the purchase of vaccines for the world’s poorest countries focusing on the most at-risk including health workers, older people, and those with underlying conditions.
“The international community must do more to address the tragedy that is vaccine inequity, the 18-year-old activist said.
About 1 in 4 people in high-income countries have received a COVID-19 vaccine, compared with just 1 in more than 500 in low-income countries.
My foundation will donate €100000 to support COVAX to ensure a more equitable global COVID-19 vaccine distribution. #VaccineEquity pic.twitter.com/JKxZC4s8F7— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) April 19, 2021
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“We have the means at our disposal to correct the great imbalance that exists around the world today in the fight against Covid-19. Just as with the climate crisis, we must help those who are the most vulnerable first”, she added.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked Greta Thunberg for showing support in the cause of vaccine equity and for setting the footprints for others to follow.
“Greta Thunberg has inspired millions of people worldwide to take action to address the climate crisis, and her strong support of vaccine equity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic yet again demonstrates her commitment to making our world a healthier, safer, and fairer place for all people”, said Dr Tedros.
Under the Covax facilities, 92 poorest countries can access coronavirus jabs and the costs will be covered by the donors.
Co-led by WHO, the Gavi vaccine alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Covax has delivered more than 39 million doses to 114 participating territories so far.
The aim is to donate enough jabs to around 27% of the population of the 92 impoverished countries by end of the year.
The novel coronavirus has so far killed more than three million people globally and cases are still skyrocketing in many countries.