The European Commission has increased from 40 to 75 million euros its aid package to roll out vaccination against COVID-19 and speed up immunization campaigns in six Eastern Partnership countries.
The EC said in a statement on its website.
“With the new €35 million aid package, the EU aims to significantly increase access to vaccines in the Eastern Partnership region against the backdrop of a global vaccine shortage by facilitating vaccine exchanges between EU member states and reimbursing costs,” the statement said.
This is in addition to the first €40 million packages of support that began in February. The program provided more than 11 million pieces of personal protective equipment, 12,000 laboratory kits, more than 1,500 ventilator machines, oxygen concentrators and pulse oximeters, and more than 20,000 PCR test kits throughout the region.
The new package will support the effective deployment of vaccines obtained by partners directly through the EU vaccine exchange mechanism and indirectly through the UN COVAX program and direct procurement from COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers.
