Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
232. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations that have been made in relation to vaccine supplies in Nepal, especially with regard to the availability of second doses since the Delta variant has become dominant. [35438/21]
View answerOn 8 May, the Government of Nepal made a request for emergency assistance to the EU through the EU Emergency Response Mechanism. In response, Irish officials made an assessment of medical equipment available in the HSE's stockpile of medical supplies.
On June 16, Ireland donated the following equipment to Nepal: 72 oxygen concentrators; 42 ventilators; 12 bipap machines; 400 oximeters; 50 respiratory monitors; 50 defibrillators; 100 thermometers; 1,126 oxygen and air regulators; 99,750 protective coveralls; 201,600 face shields and 1,008,000 surgical masks.
Transporting this donation to Nepal would not have been possible without the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This partnership represents EU solidarity and cooperation at its best.
No representation has been received from Nepal seeking vaccine supplies. Nepal was among the first countries receive vaccines from the COVAX facility. Irish Aid has so far this year provided €4 million to COVAX facility, to finance the procurement and distribution of vaccines, with an accompanying €1 million to WHO to support its oversight role. COVAX has so far shipped over 89 million vaccines to 133 participating countries: the EU and Member States have committed over €3.2 billion to COVAX.
The Irish Aid contribution to COVAX is part of Irish Aid's allocation of at least €100 million to global health this year. This will enable an effective and holistic pandemic response through strengthening public health systems, including capability to run vaccination campaigns.
