Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2021
308. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to make the Covid-19 vaccine more available to persons in less developed countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27899/21]
View answerIreland is playing its full part in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for all.
Last year, Irish funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) was quadrupled, given its role as lead UN agency for health and co-host of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Launched in April 2020, the ACT Accelerator, is a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
Through the Irish Aid programme, the Government has also allocated approximately €100 million in 2021 to global public health, to help ensure that health systems in developing countries can respond effectively to the pandemic. In some cases, this is with the support of the HSE Global Health Programme.
Irish Embassies in partner countries are also working alongside WHO, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance ,and others to support the vaccine rollout effort, which is challenging for many countries. Irish Aid support so far this year includes a direct contribution to the COVAX facility of €4 million, with further contributions under active consideration. Accompanying the COVAX payment was an additional €1 million to the WHO to oversee the process of vaccine procurement and distribution.
Ireland’s support sits within the broader EU response. So far, the EU and Member States have committed €2.5 billion to COVAX. COVAX is beginning to show some real results; shipping over 68 million vaccines to 125 participant countries as of May 20th. COVAX has secured options on a total of 4.06 billion doses of vaccines.
Officials across the relevant Government Departments are also considering the recommendations put forward by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence in their recent Report on the Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries.
