Finland promotes global vaccination coverage

NordenBladet — Finland will donate the second batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses through Team Europe. These vaccines were purchased in advance and they would remain unused in Finland. The vaccine donations will not slow down the rollout of vaccinations in Finland. Finland’s donation of COVID-19 doses and support for vaccine alliance Gavi will increase global vaccine coverage and prevent the rise of new variants.In its session today, on 16 December, the Government decided to donate a batch of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine doses to developing countries. The total value of these vaccines is EUR 12.6 million. The donation is tied to the vaccine doses that remain unused from Finland’s share of the EU’s joint vaccine procurement contract. The vaccine donations will not slow down the rollout of vaccinations in Finland. This is the second batch of vaccine donations, following Finland’s donation of AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines worth EUR 10 million in September 2021. “The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how rapidly global problems impact wellbeing and economy in Finland. The pandemic can be defeated, but we need more resources and solidarity,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. Finland is committed to international vaccine solidarity and it participates in the EU’s efforts to increase the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. It is of vital importance not only from the perspective of solidarity but also from the viewpoint of health security and economy that the availability of vaccines in third countries is supported. At the same time, Finland channels EUR 15.2 million to support Gavi, which plays a key role in efforts to respond to the pandemic. Gavi works through the COVAX Facility in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF. COVAX is the main channel for conducting international cooperation to ensure the equal availability of COVID-19 vaccines and to demonstrate the EU’s vaccine solidarity.The COVID-19 Vaccines Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC) supports especially the availability of vaccines in low-income and middle-income countries. Supporting COVAX AMC is important to increase global vaccination coverage and to curb the emergence and spread of new virus variants that cause disease.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi