Australia-UNICEF’s COVID-19 Vaccine Support to Nauru
Australia-UNICEF's COVID-19 Vaccine
Support to Nauru
Yaren, Nauru, 3 February
2022 - Nauru's defence against COVID-19 will be strengthened
with the delivery of thousands of Pfizer vaccines in the coming
months.
Last night, Australia provided 5,850 doses of Pfizer COVID-19
vaccines to Nauru as part of a AUD302.7 million partnership with
UNICEF to procure up to 20 million vaccines for partner countries
in the Pacific and Southeast Asia by the end of 2022. New Zealand
has contributed AUD 6.1m to the partnership with UNICEF.
Nauru's Minister for Health, the
Hon Isabella Dageago, was on hand to receive the vaccine
doses. "Nauru has successfully vaccinated 97 per cent of its
adult population against COVID-19. These vaccines will allow
us to protect our children from the disease, a significant step
toward fully opening Nauru to the world."
Dr Helen Cheney, Australia's High
Commissioner to Nauru, welcomed the arrival. "Vaccines have
been a major part of Australia's response to COVID-19.
Australia is pleased to support Nauru's efforts to prepare for the
disease. We hope that these vaccines will help to protect
Nauru against the worst effects of the pandemic."
The arrival of doses is an
important step toward Australia's broader commitment, to share
60 million doses with Indo-Pacific neighbours.
"We thank the Government of
Australia for supporting our joint efforts with the Nauru Ministry
of Health and Medical Services in ensuring communities, including
children, are safe with COVID-19 entering more Pacific shores,"
said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Jonathan Veitch. "These Pfizer
vaccines will protect thousands of children living in Nauru between
12 to 17 years of age, as well as their families, against severe
symptomatic illness from the virus."
Australia and Nauru will continue
working together to save lives, build strong and resilient health
systems and advance economic recovery from COVID-19.
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About the Nauru Ministry of Health and Medical Services:
The Nauru Ministry of Health and
Medical Services is mandated to deliver a health sector that
supports a healthy and resilient nation that values and supports
individual rights through quality, inclusive health care over the
life course. Based on the principles of Universal Health Coverage,
it promotes, protects and maintains the health and well-being of
all people of Nauru, through community engagement and empowerment
and through public health and clinical services that provide better
health outcomes and greater social inclusion for all.
About the Australian Government's
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
The Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade (DFAT) promotes and protects Australia's international
interests to support our security and prosperity. We work with
international partners and other countries to tackle global
challenges, increase trade and investment opportunities, protect
international rules, keep our region stable and help Australians
overseas.
Follow us on
Facebook,
Twitter and at
www.dfat.gov.au.
About UNICEF:
UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the
world's most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and
territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better
world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF
Pacific and its work for children, follow
UNICEF Pacific on
Twitter and
Facebook
For more information, please
contact:
Angelo Dimapilis, Deputy Chair,
Nauru COVID Taskforce, Tel: +674 557 3355, angelo.dimapilis@naurugovernment.nr
Helen Turner, Australian High
Commission, Nauru, Tel: +674 557 3329, helen.turner@dfat.gov.au
Zubnah Khan, UNICEF Pacific, Tel:
+679 9988137, zukhan@unicef.org