FILE PHOTO: Ethiopian Airlines staff unload AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines under the COVAX scheme against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from a cargo plane at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 7, 2021. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo
ZURICH/GENEVA — The chairman of the GAVI vaccine alliance, Jose Manuel Barroso, said on Wednesday that a pledging summit secured nearly $2.4 billion, bringing total contributions nearly to $9.6 billion for the COVAX dose-sharing program to buy vaccines and deliver them to poorer nations.
Earlier, Australia and European countries like Spain and Sweden announced fresh contributions to the COVAX mechanism in a bid to widen vaccination of people in low- and middle-income countries.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that his country was making a further $50 million donation to the GAVI vaccine alliance’s COVAX facility, bringing its total to $130 million.
Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, who announced a donation of 15 million doses and 50 million euros ($61 million), said: “Only by leading by example we will be effective in preaching solidarity.” Sweden, Austria, and Luxembourg were among other countries to announce new donations, as well.
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