‘UK pledges £1.65 billion to support Gavi's vaccination efforts and protect Britain from Covid-19 'second wave'
The UK Government has pledged £330 million a year for the next 5 years to support efforts to vaccinate 75 million children against deadly infectious diseases and accelerate the drive for a coronavirus jab. Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the International Development Secretary said the funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance would support immunisation programmes in 68 of the world’s poorest countries, while also protecting Britain “from future waves of coronavirus”. “The coronavirus pandemic shows the vital role vaccines play in protecting us against disease,” Anne-Marie Trevelyan said. “The UK's pledge will help to ensure the delivery of life-saving vaccinations in 68 countries, saving lives and strengthening health systems. “This will therefore help protect the UK and our NHS from future waves of coronavirus.”
‘Gavi - a public-private partnership that leads immunisation campaigns in poor countries - is also a key partner in efforts to develop and distribute a coronavirus vaccine. Ms Trevelyan said the new UK funding, equal to £1.65 billion in total, would help accelerate this process. “As coronavirus vaccine trials begin, we need to make sure any successful vaccine will be available to everyone,” she said. “Gavi will be integral to achieving this, so we can protect the UK and the NHS from future waves of infection.”
Extracts taken from The Telegraph ‘UK pledges £1.65 billion to support Gavi's vaccination efforts and protect Britain from Covid-19 'second wave' https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/uk-pledges-165bn-support-gavis-vaccination-efforts-protect-britain/
