VEVEY, Switzerland – Nestlé is today joining the drive to speed up vaccination against COVID-19 and ensure broad, equitable distribution of vaccines to developing countries. “We are announcing a CHF 2 million donation to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to support COVAX, the global facility for the procurement and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This builds on our ongoing efforts to support communities around the world during the pandemic,” says the company in a press release.
The deployment of vaccines has started in a number of countries. At the same time, broad and equitable access to vaccines is still lacking because of a major financing gap.
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider: “The COVID-19 pandemic has cost too many lives and livelihoods. The speedy development of vaccines has given us hope, but the job isn’t done until there is access everywhere in the world. That is why we are supporting COVAX to reach those most in need. We urge everyone to help close this funding gap as soon as possible.”
Nestlé supported the search for a vaccine with a donation to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which manages the COVAX facility together with WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). The focus is now on the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to help communities worldwide find their way out of this crisis.
Nestlé has been responding to the COVID-19 crisis by protecting its employees, by maintaining global food supply chains and by giving a helping hand in local communities.
Since March 2020, they have provided assistance to those fighting the crisis with an estimated CHF 90 million in financial and in-kind donations across various countries.
Efforts have included supporting caregivers and strengthening healthcare systems through a partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
They have also helped respond to hunger and poverty, including a partnership with the European Federation of Food Banks.
