Vaccine: World Bank Gives $4bn to 51 Countries

The World Bank has stated that it has provided a fund of over $4 billion for the purchase and deployment of COVID-19 Vaccine to 51 countries– with over half in Africa.

This was contained in a press statement released by the bank titled ‘World Bank financing for COVID-19 vaccine rollout exceeds $4bn for 50 countries’

The press statement read, “The World Bank announced today that it is providing over $4bn for the purchase and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines for 51 developing countries, half of which are in Africa.

“More than half of the financing comes from the International Development Association, the bank’s fund for the world’s poorest countries, and is on grant or highly concessional terms.

“This financing is part of the bank’s commitment to help low and middle-income countries acquire and distribute vaccines and strengthen their health systems.”

The Bank also called on key stakeholders to engage in vaccine procurement and delivery.

The $4 billion is supporting COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Comoros, the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, the Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, São Tomé e Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, Yemen, and Zambia.

The statement added, “The World Bank reiterated its call to governments, pharmaceutical companies, and organisations involved in vaccine procurement and delivery to help increase transparency and build greater public information regarding vaccine contracts, options and agreements; vaccine financing and delivery agreements; and doses delivered and future delivery plans.

“It asked those countries anticipating excess vaccine supplies in the coming months to release their surplus doses and options as soon as possible, in a transparent manner, to developing countries with adequate distribution plans in place.”

The statement also quoted the bank’s Managing Director, Operations, Axelvan Trotsenburg, as saying, “The World Bank is helping developing countries in every region of the world with vaccine purchase and rollout.

“Significant challenges still remain regarding vaccine deployment and hesitancy. We are taking action on all fronts to tackle these challenges, working in solidarity with international and regional partners to expedite doses to as many people as possible and to enhance disease surveillance, preparedness, and response.”