Baghdad – 100.800 of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine have arrived to Iraq, as the first delivery from a pledge of 15 million doses to be donated to COVAX by Italy. This donation of doses to COVAX comes on top of the USD 470 million Italy has pledged to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (Gavi COVAX AMC).
In May this year, as chair of the G20, Italy hosted The Global Health Summit alongside the European Commission, which saw seven European countries pledge to share over 100 million vaccine doses to priority countries like Iraq, boosting short-term supplies.
This donation by Italy allows COVAX to deliver more vaccines in the third quarter of this year, before supply from COVAX purchase agreements increases in Q4, meaning that more people will be able to access vaccines now, at a time when variants are a major threat to global health and stability.
“Italy stands by Iraq and supports its efforts in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic” said the Ambassador of Italy, H. E. Mr. Bruno Pasquino, attending the delivery of the vaccines at the Baghdad International Airport. “This donation is a tangible sign of the solidarity and friendship ties between Italy and Iraq, with a view to contributing to economic, social and sanitary recovery.”
“In continuation of the efforts of the Ministry of Health to provide vaccines from various solid global origins, and with the support of the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the Ministry of Health is happy to receive a plane loaded with more than one hundred thousand doses of the anti-Coronavirus vaccine thanks to a donation of the Italian Government through the COVAX Global Facility,” stated Dr. Riyadh Al-Hilfi, Director General of the Public Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health.
“UNICEF thanks the Government of Italy for its donation of vaccines to Iraq through the COVAX facility. We look forward to more vaccines becoming available in the country as other COVAX partners share their doses of vaccines and help secure full funding for the global initiative and more vaccines,“ stated Sheema SenGupta, UNICEF Representative in Iraq.
“In WHO, we believe that we are only safe when we all are safe, and we will control this pandemic only when all people eligible for the vaccine have been vaccinated. The Iraqi government and its partners have deployed tremendous efforts in securing safe and effective vaccines for Iraqi people and through this type of solidarity demonstrated today by the Italian people, we are a step closer to achieving our goals.” Dr Ahmed Zoutine WHO Iraq Representative.
These doses donated by Italy are produced by the AstraZeneca manufacturing network. Donating through COVAX helps to increase vaccine coverage, and helps to bring an end to the acute phase of the pandemic.
© Press Release 2021
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