Latter-day Saint Charities becomes the largest private donor to date to support UNICEF’s ACT Accelerator and COVAX work

Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, today announced a $ 20 million grant to support UNICEF’s global work with the Accelerator for Access to COVID- 19 tools (ACT) and the vaccine arm of the ACT accelerator is known as the COVAX facility.

This grant complements the Church’s $ 3 million donation in 2020 to facilitate UNICEF’s urgent response to COVID-19 and provide water, sanitation and sanitation services.

The new grant will add to UNICEF’s historic efforts to lead the procurement and delivery of 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines to approximately 196 participating COVAX countries and economies by the end of 2021. The first 2 billion doses are designed to protect frontline health care and social environments, including workers, high-risk and vulnerable people.

The donation will also support UNICEF, which works with countries to strengthen its refrigeration and supply chains, train health workers, clean up misinformation, and build trust in vaccines and the health systems that supply them.

“COVID-19 is the first truly global crisis that we have seen in our lives. No matter where we live, the pandemic affects everyone, including children. It has never been more urgent to work together. This grant to our important role in Latter-day Saint Charities COVAX is the largest single donation from a private sector partner that we have received, ”said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “We hope that your generosity inspires other organizations, companies and individuals to give us equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.”

Through the COVAX facility, UNICEF, together with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO and CEPI, is leveraging its unique vaccine sourcing and supplying experience, strengths and reach in community engagement to drive vaccine demand and uptake. The response aims to hasten the end of the pandemic and minimize disruption in children’s lives by protecting health and social workers around the world, including educators and primary caregivers.

“We thank the team and the organization of UNICEF. You have done so much to care for children and their families and to help them meet basic needs and fulfill their potential, ”said Bishop Gérald Caussé, Chairperson Bishop of the Church. “As more adults in vulnerable communities are vaccinated, critical health, nutrition and education services for children in need can resume. We have hope in our hearts not only to overcome the pandemic, but to see a better future for all children and their families. “

Latter-day Charities and UNICEF USA partnered in 2013 to provide assistance to children and their families with vaccination, emergency response, and education and development needs for refugees.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. In 190 countries and territories, we work for every child everywhere to create a better world for all. More information about UNICEF and its work for children can be found at www.unicef.org. You can find more information about COVID-19 at www.unicef.org/coronavirus. Find out more about UNICEF’s work on COVID-19 vaccines here or about UNICEF’s work on immunization here. Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook.

About the COVAX system

COVAX is the vaccine pillar of the Accelerator Access to COVID-19 Tool (ACT), a groundbreaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and fair access of COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. COVAX is jointly led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) and the WHO. The aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and to ensure fair and equitable access for every country in the world. UNICEF, working with the PAHO Revolving Fund, is a leader in sourcing and delivering doses of COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the COVAX facility.

About Latter-day Saint Charities

Latter-day Saint charities are the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have so far supported 1,050 COVID-19 relief projects in 152 countries. Latter-day Saint Charities financially supports prominent global vaccination partners in obtaining and administering vaccinations, monitoring disease, responding to outbreaks, training health care workers, and developing eradication and eradication programs. Results include more immunized children and fewer deaths from measles, rubella, maternal and newborn tetanus, polio, diarrhea, pneumonia, and yellow fever.