Ulaanbaatar
ADB allocates $20 million to help developing members access vaccines for COVID-19
Economy
Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. On November 17, the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) has allocated $20.3 million in technical assistance
to help its developing members access vaccines for the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) and establish systems to enable equitable and efficient vaccine
distribution.
The funds will be available for ADB developing members to
support vaccine-related health system assessments and the development of
country readiness plans to strengthen the capacity to access,
introduce, deploy, deliver, and monitor vaccines safely and
effectively. 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.
The technical assistance will also support the identification and promotion of
innovative cold chain and vaccine tracking technologies.
“Asia and the Pacific has 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,” said Director
General of ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Department Woochong Um. “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.”
ADB expects to implement the technical assistance with
its partners UNICEF and the World Health Organization, in
coordination with COVAX, Gavi, the World Bank, bilateral
agencies, among others.
The funds comprise $20 million from ADB’s Technical
Assistance Special Fund (TASF) and $300,000 from the High-Level Technology
Fund financed by the Government of Japan.
ADB approved a $20
billion expanded assistance package in April to support its developing
members’ COVID-19 response. Visit ADB’s website to
learn more about our ongoing response.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive,
resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts
to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49
from the region..
Source: ADB
