TOKYO – The Japanese government announced on Thursday its commitment to donate over US$130 million to the GAVI COVAX Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC) to ensure that developing countries have equitable access to novel coronavirus vaccines.
The contribution is part of the US$300 million that Japan pledged at the Global Vaccine Summit last June.
“I would like to announce that Japan will contribute more than US$130 million for the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), in order to enable lower income countries to reinforce equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines,” Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said during the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) held virtually.
According to Motegi, Japan has already extended more than US$1.54 billion worth of foreign aid to tackle the global pandemic over a few months since February. He also pointed out the country’s position in providing assistance: strengthening countries’ capacity to tackle COVID-19, in particular to research and develop vaccines and other tools, and to ensure equitable access to those tools; strengthening health systems, preparing for future health crises; and generating an enabling environment for health security.
Japan co-hosted the online meeting. - Florenda Corpuz
(Photograph courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
