The European Union welcomes the decision of the EU-supported COVAX/GAVI facility of 29 January 2021 to allocate 24,570 doses of BioNTech- Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and up to 264,000 indicative doses of AstraZeneca / SKBio COVID-19 vaccine to the Republic of Moldova. With EUR 853 million, the EU is the biggest initial contributor to the COVAX facility, IPN reports, quoting a press release.

“The European Union is supporting the Republic of Moldova in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. An equitable and fair access to vaccines is a key element in ending the pandemic.  The European Union and its Member States, acting together as 'Team Europe' are proud to support COVAX in delivering vaccines to our partners”, said Ambassador Peter Michalko, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

The European Union is working to support the launch of the vaccination campaign in February, together with other international partners. The vaccines to be delivered via COVAX through this first assistance to the Republic of Moldova has been authorized in the EU by the European Medicines Agency.

The European Union has mobilized a EUR 128 million package to assist the Republic of Moldova in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis, delivering medical material and equipment, providing support to strengthen the health system and economic recovery as well as supporting vulnerable groups.

COVAX is a pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, a global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.