Universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority for Ireland and the EU. Ireland has committed to the donation of up to five million COVID-19 vaccine doses through the COVAX vaccine initiative and bilateral arrangements with recipient countries. To date, arrangements are in place for the donation of 2.9 million doses including mRNA vaccines that our surplus to requirements in the Irish vaccination programme.
Over 1.8 million doses have already been delivered to recipient countries including Uganda, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ghana and Burkina Faso. Additional vaccine deliveries are expected to follow shortly.
It has been requested that donations to COVAX meet certain minimum standards including a recommendation for a minimum of 10 weeks shelf life when donated vaccine doses arrive in-country. Officials in my Department engage extensively with relevant stakeholders to ensure donated vaccines distributed through COVAX have adequate shelf life to meet recipient country requirements.