Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE announced on Thursday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to donate doses of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine to help inoculate athletes and their delegations participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The companies said initial doses are expected to be delivered to participating delegations at the end of May with the aim of ensuring the delegations receive second doses ahead of arrivals in Tokyo.
“This donation of the vaccine is another tool in our toolbox of measures to help make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 safe and secure for all participants and to show solidarity with our gracious Japanese hosts,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.
“We are inviting the athletes and participating delegations of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to lead by example and accept the vaccine where and when possible. By taking the vaccine, they can send a powerful message that vaccination is not only about personal health, but also about solidarity and consideration of the wellbeing of others in their communities,” he added.
Pfizer and BioNTech said the doses provided under the MoU would be in addition to doses provided under supply agreements with governments worldwide. - FJJ
(Photo courtesy of Pfizer Japan Inc.)
