Australia will provide funding for Fiji to access a future COVID-19 vaccine

Australia has ensured that Fiji will be able to access a future COVID-19 vaccine through a new innovative funding mechanism announced by Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, at the recent Global Vaccine Summit.

Australia has pledged $460 million for the Vaccine Alliance to continue its vital work in providing access to vaccines for countries across the Indo-Pacific.

This will ensure there is proper planning for manufacturing and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available.

Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes says their support to Vaccine Alliance will also ensure that Fiji is not priced out of accessing a future COVID-19 vaccine in what will no doubt be a competitive global market.

Fiji will join our other Pacific neighbours including Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu in being eligible for financing to access a COVID-19 vaccine when developed.

Gavi is a public-private partnership that provides access to vaccines for low-income countries and will invest FJD1.8 billion from 2021 to provide access to a range of vaccines for 140 million children in the Indo-Pacific region over the next five years.