The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday confirmed the allocation of funds worth $20.3 million to its developing member countries to aid the production of COVID-19 vaccine and to enable smooth, equitable and efficient vaccine distribution. The funds, which were approved earlier this year in April, constitute $20 million from ADB’s Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF) and $300,000 from the High-Level Technology Fund financed by Japan’s government.
The financial aid will be available for ADB developing members with the intent to support vaccine-related health system assessments and the development of country’s distribution plan to strengthen the people’s capacity to access, introduce, deploy, deliver, and monitor vaccines safely and effectively. The technical assistance aid would help in the identification and promotion of innovative cold chain and vaccine tracking technologies.
“Asia and the Pacific have largely done well to limit the spread of Covid-19. Ensuring access to a safe, effective, and equitable vaccine is the next frontier in the fight against this virus,” Director General of ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Woochong Um said in a statement.
“With these additional grant resources, ADB can immediately support our developing members to undertake urgent actions, including vaccine system assessments and vaccine deployment strategies, to ensure vaccines are delivered efficiently and fairly. Funds will help members assess and strengthen vaccine cold chain and logistics, infection control, supply and skills of health workers, risk communications, and real-time data capturing and monitoring, ” Woochong Um added.
ADB is in plans to do the implementation of the technical assistance with its partners, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, in coordination with COVAX, Gavi, the World Bank, and bilateral agencies, among others.
