At the Global Health Summit held in May 2021 and organised by Italy during its Presidency of the G20, alongside the European Commission, the Italian government undertook to donate millions of vaccine doses to priority countries, such as Syria.
“Italy is donating doses via COVAX, after pledging 470 million dollars to Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (Gavi COVAX AMC); the latter donation will help many people in Syria have access to vaccines”, said Massimiliano D’Antuono, Italy’s Chargé d’affaires ad interim. “Italy stands next to the Syrian people and, together with the humanitarian aid offered by the EU, UNICEF and WHO, supports the measures taken to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and, generally speaking, the consequences of the serious humanitarian situation in the whole country”, he added. The donated vaccines can be stored and transported using the standard equipment for vaccines. This ensures distribution in remote areas and offers the opportunity to protect, with one single dose, the people that are more difficult to reach.
EU, WHO and UNICEF representatives for Syria said Italy’s generous donation is particularly timely and will help achieve the goal of vaccinating the majority of the Syrian people by the end of this year, particularly healthcare workers and the poorest and most vulnerable people.
