Canada announces new vaccine contributions for regional partners
News release
August 4, 2021 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Vaccinating the world against COVID-19 is our best chance of ending the acute phase of the pandemic, because no one is safe until we are all safe. Canada is committed to doing our part to support equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines around the world, including supporting our regional partners in the Caribbean that have felt the impacts of the pandemic acutely.
The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, today announced that the Government of Canada will share over 82,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Trinidad and Tobago via a bilateral agreement. These are doses that had already arrived in Canada, but are in excess of our domestic needs. Trinidad and Tobago was selected to receive these doses based on need and the country’s capacity to deploy them immediately, minimizing wastage, and maximizing the public health impact.
These excess doses will be delivered to Trinidad and Tobago in the coming days, and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will manage the administration of the vaccines in accordance with manufacturing guidelines and public health best practices.
As announced by the Prime Minister at the G7 Summit on June 13, 2021, Canada’s $1.3 billion contribution to the ACT Accelerator, as part of the $2.5 billion that we have contributed to the global fight against the virus, is helping to provide 87 million vaccine doses to developing countries. The Prime Minister also announced an initial commitment to share 13 million doses via COVAX. On July 12, 2021, Canada announced that it would be sharing an additional 17.7 million doses. These doses, distributed via the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), will help accelerate deliveries to low and lower middle-income countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, while also helping priority countries in other regions.
Canada will continue to prioritize the delivery of any potential excess doses through the COVAX AMC, as well as exploring other dose sharing options, as needed, to ensure vaccines get to those in need.
Canada is also matching, dollar for dollar, donations made by individual Canadians to UNICEF Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination fundraising campaign, up to a maximum of $10 million.
Quotes
“Vaccinating the world against COVID-19 continues to be the best strategy to end the pandemic. By redirecting excess doses we do not need here in Canada, we are supporting global efforts to fight this virus, and ensuring vaccines get to those in need. Canadians know that no one is safe until everyone is safe.”
- Karina Gould, Minister of International Development
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve worked to ensure every Canadian who wants a vaccine can get one. While we continue our vaccine rollout, we must also make sure the rest of the world has access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Today’s donation to Trinidad & Tobago will provide excess doses to those most in need, protecting communities around the world.”
-Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health
Quick facts
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The Caribbean region is important to Canada due to geographic proximity and long standing historical collaboration, including in public health. Trinidad and Tobago is a key partner for Canada, with more than 100,000 Canadians with connections to the country, and many thousands of Trinbagonians with connections to Canada.
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The matching fund campaign, called “Give A Vax,” will run to September 6, 2021.
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Canada is committed to playing its part to ensure that the rest of the world has access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, and we will continue to explore other options for donations as necessary should additional doses become available.
Associated links
- COVAX
- Canada announces new contribution to global vaccination efforts and launch of matching fund with UNICEF Canada
- Prime Minister concludes productive G7 Leaders’ Summit in United Kingdom
- Prime Minister announces additional support for equitable access to new COVID-19 medical solutions
- Prime Minister concludes productive G7 Leaders’ meeting
- Canada announces additional support for equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines •
- New agreements to secure additional vaccine candidates for COVID-19
- Canada announces support for equitable access to new COVID-19 medical solutions
- Canada’s support for international efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic
- Canada’s aid and development assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Contacts
Margaret Jaques
Office of the Minister of International Development
Margaret.Jacques@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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