The government decided that Estonia will donate 900,000 remaining doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to countries in need to fight the coronavirus pandemic. 400,000 doses will be donated through the global COVID-19 vaccine distribution mechanism COVAX and the remaining vaccine doses will be donated bilaterally to the Eastern Partnership countries.
According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, the European Union and the member states are working together to help countries fight the coronavirus pandemic. “In order to curb the global coronavirus pandemic and prevent the emergence of possible new strains, it is important that vaccination rates are as high as possible worldwide. This requires that vaccines be as widely available as possible everywhere. Estonia can and will contribute. It is also in the interests of the health of our own people,” said Kallas.
“The biggest challenges in preventing the global spread of coronavirus are ensuring the sustainability of the healthcare system and access to COVID-19 vaccines. None of us will be protected from this serious disease until a sufficient level of vaccination has been achieved around the world. Now that we are achieving significant vaccination coverage, we must help other countries. The contribution of Estonia to vaccine donation through the WHO initiative COVAX and the vaccine distribution mechanism of the European Union will improve the global availability of COVID-19 vaccines,” said Minister of Health and Labour Tanel Kiik.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets pointed out that last year, the Eastern Partnership countries have been in a particularly difficult situation due to the coronavirus crisis because at the same time, they have had to cope with security, political, and economic challenges. “If our neighbouring countries are in difficulties, we cannot feel safe either, which is why it has always been important for Estonia to contribute to maintaining the stability and security of the eastern neighbourhood. I am very pleased that we can now lend a helping hand to our partners in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to overcome the pandemic” said Liimets.
According to Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet, Ukraine is our very good partner whom we must help and support in difficult times. “Donating vaccines will help them overcome the health crisis and focus more on building the territorial defence of the country,” said Minister of Defence Laanet.
Estonia participates in all EU pre-emption agreements for vaccines, and as the amount of reserved vaccine doses exceeds the needs of the Estonian population, the government decided to donate the remaining AstraZeneca vaccine doses to countries which do not yet have the vaccine or do not have enough doses.
By the government decision, Estonia will donate 400,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this year to the global vaccine initiative COVAX (Vaccines Global Access) as part of the EU vaccine distribution mechanism. The doses will be distributed without geographical preference to support a fair distribution of vaccines worldwide.
In addition, Estonia will donate 400,000 doses through bilateral humanitarian aid to the Eastern Partnership countries which have requested aid both bilaterally and through the EU. 100,000 doses will be given to Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, and 50,000 doses to Azerbaijan and to Armenia. Estonia will additionally send 100,000 existing doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Ukraine. The Estonian Ministry of Defence will cover the costs of proper transport.
The remaining doses donated through COVAX and the EU vaccine donation mechanism will be produced in accordance with the dose production schedule for Estonia during this year and will be delivered to the countries through the respective mechanisms.
The donation of vaccines is organised in cooperation between the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Health Board.
Additional information:
Sarah Adamson
Media Adviser
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
[email protected]
Riina Soobik
Adviser on Media Relations
Ministry of Social Affairs
+372 626 9149 / + 372 5340 0736
[email protected]
Karin Kivipõld
Media Adviser
Ministry of Defence
717 0019
[email protected]