The US embassy in Tirana shared US President Joe Biden’s declaration this Sunday, who pledged to contribute another $2 Billion dollars to the international distribution program of the anti-COVID vaccine to countries in need, known as COVAX. Albania is also expected to profit from this fund.
This contribution – which until now is at 2 Billion US dollars, – is expected to surpass the contributions of Germany ($ 1 billion); UK ($735 million) and the EU ($ 489 million).
COVAX aims at helping 92 developing countries, so that they can have access to the vaccine. Albania is also part of this group.
The US embassy in Tirana clarified that until now, Albania has been able to get over $2 Million US dollars in aids, from the contribution of the US for the pandemic.
This funding was provided in order to strengthen our infrastructure and medical capacities with things like protective gear against infections, testing devices, air ventilators for COVID hospitals etc.
Albania has contributed $3.9 million to the COVAX mechanism in order to obtain vaccines and there are on-going discussions with the EU as well, to be able to get a grant of 11 Million euros that is expected to mainly finance the vaccination program.
Until now the COVAX program hasn’t met its expectations, because of delays in deliveries from the companies producing the vaccines. Albania, which apart from the COVAX program, has also ordered another 500 thousand doses directly from Pfizer, has started the vaccination program since January 11th and has until now administered 50 thousand injections.
Biden’s message, announced in the summit of the 47 most developed countries – also knowns at G7 – confirmed USA’s stance in increasing its efforts and financial aid in world initiatives trying to fight the war against the pandemic. With this added funding in the COVAX program, the deliveries of the vaccines in developing countries are expected to be more frequent.
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