Asian Philanthropists, coordinated by the Asia Philanthropy Circle, have pooled $1.5 million in funding to contribute 600,000 doses towards the COVAX global Covid-19 vaccine target. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will match the funds – securing $3 million for the initiative.

The funding will enable access to much-needed vaccines throughout Asia, where third waves of the virus are wreaking havoc in Southeast Asia, as well as beginning to crest in East Asian countries that had originally managed to contain the pandemic.

Asia Philanthropy Circle and Gavi will donate $3 million to vaccines. Photo credit: Unsplash

APC’s contribution joins worldwide commitments from government and private sectors and helps Gavi COVAX AMC reach its global target of 1.8 billion doses.

‘APC is very glad to help facilitate this collective effort by philanthropists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, and Taiwan,’ said APC Co-Chair and CEO Laurence Lien. ‘While our members are already conducting their own Covid-19 related efforts within their own communities, they also wanted to take further action in ensuring vaccines can be made available to the ones who need them the most as soon as possible, especially in Asia where the cases are rising sharply.’

The pooled fund includes contributions from ten philanthropists and philanthropic organisations, including MAC3 Impact Philanthropies, Lien Foundation, Quantedge Advancement Initiative, Li Foundation, and Ishk Tolaram Foundation, amongst others.

‘We must all pull together – governments and the private sector from around the world,’ said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance during the global launch of the Gavi COVAX AMC Investment Opportunity. ‘We cannot afford to fail. Leaving any countries behind just gives the virus more of a chance to mutate and increase the threat. We are only safe if we are all safe. Let us respond to the challenge at hand and prepare for the next one.’