Statement by UNICEF Canada’s President and CEO David Morley on Canada’s G7 COVID-19 vaccine announcement

TORONTO, 13 JUNE 2021 – “We welcome Canada’s announcement to share 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses with the world,” said David Morley, President & CEO of UNICEF Canada. “To overcome acute shortages and saves lives currently at risk, Canada’s donations must come through rapidly and at scale, and must increase as more people in Canada get their first and second shots. Getting vaccines on the ground now is critical to protect frontline health workers in lower-income countries, resume life-saving programs for children, and to protect us all from future variants.
 
Together with our COVAX partners, UNICEF is working around the clock to ensure vaccines reach the world’s most vulnerable populations. But we need a comprehensive, time-bound dose-sharing plan from Canada and other G7 Leaders starting immediately and charting the course for the rest of the year. This must be accompanied with support to roll-out delivery of doses in-country.

We urge Canada to act on its commitment now, build on this in the weeks to come, and to show continued leadership in fighting against this pandemic to the very end. UNICEF stands ready to support these efforts as we ramp up delivery of vaccines around the world.”