Tokyo, Japan – Japan on Tuesday has pledged over 11 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility to Asian countries and various Pacific Island states, including Maldives.
The Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday that the the AstraZeneca doses made in Japan were approved by the World Health Organization on July 9 for use in COVAX.
The Foreign Minister of Maldives, Adulla Shahid expressed his gratitude saying that the Maldives welcomed Japan’s decision to include Maldives among the 10 recipients of the 11 million Covid-19 vaccine doses donated through the COVAX sharing facility. He thanked Foreign Minister Motegi and the people of Japan.
Japan has also pledged $1 billion and 30 million doses to the COVAX facility. In addition to the donations to the COVAX facility, Japan is making shipments to Vietnam, Taiwan and other Asian neighbours directly to speed up delivery, Motegi said.
Maldives is receiving Covid-19 vaccine donations via the COVAX facility including part of 16 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine the US is donating to Asian countries and Canada’s CAD 220 million in financial commitments to secure doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 92 low- and middle-income countries.
