A group of 28 UNICEF Ambassadors and supporters have urged the G7 group of rich countries to donate 20 percent of their coronavirus vaccines to poorer nations.
They include singer-songwriters Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, Liam Payne, and P!nk.
The open letter, published ahead of the three-day G7 Summit in Cornwall, U.K., this weekend, urges G7 leaders to commit to sharing a minimum of 20 percent of COVID-19 vaccine dose supply urgently to reduce the risk of the virus spreading further and the threat of mutant strains.
“This weekend’s G7 Summit is a vital opportunity for you to agree the actions that will get vaccines where they are most needed, fast,” the letter says.
Other signatories include UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Priyanka Chopra Jonas, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Whoopi Goldberg, Angélique Kidjo, and Liam Neeson.
COVAX, the international vaccine equity initiative, is 190 million doses short of supply to countries where vulnerable people remain dangerously unprotected. Some countries have committed to donating vaccines later this year, but doses are needed now.
UNICEF analysis shows that G7 countries will soon have enough doses to donate 20 percent of their vaccines – more than 150 million doses – between June and August without significant delay to current plans to vaccinate their adult populations.
(Photo: Kelia Anne MacCluskey)
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