(CNN) – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has approved $150 million of funding to help 92 low-and middle-income countries “jumpstart” their “readiness to deliver COVID-19 vaccines, in the form of planning, technical assistance and cold chain equipment.”
“The decisions taken today serve the twin goals of moving forward rapidly with our need to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines,” said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in a statement on Thursday.
Okonjo-Iweala added that the decision will support, “lower-income countries’ ability to maintain routine immunization programmes and protect against the threat of other infectious diseases.”
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance announced earlier this week it had so far secured 200 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s poorest countries.
The vaccines will have a ceiling price of US$1.60 to US$2 per dose for the 92 of the world’s low income countries.
Through the COVAX facility coordinated by Gavi, 75 countries have formally committed to providing funding to provide at least part of the cost for procuring the vaccine for poorer nations.
This story was first published on CNN.com, “World’s poorest countries receive $150 million to prepare for delivery of COVID-19 vaccines”
