Fiji to benefit as UK helps mobilise $US1b to help countries access COVID-19 vaccines

The United Kingdom has mobilised US$1 billion from global donors to support vulnerable countries including Fiji access coronavirus vaccines.

They helped raise the money for the COVAX Advance Market Commitment which brings together governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines reach those in greatest need.

£548 million of aid is being provided by the UK and they have pledged it will help distribute one billion doses of coronavirus vaccines to 92 developing countries including Fiji this year.

The UK says it is using their aid budget, scientific expertise and diplomatic leverage to strengthen global health.

The 92 countries that will be supported by the COVAX Advance Market Commitment are as follows:

Low income: Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen.

Lower-middle income: Angola, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyztan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Mauritania, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Bank and Gaza, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Additional IDA eligible: Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Kosovo, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Samoa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga and Tuvalu.