Nestlé, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have today announced a new partnership to support broad and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
With more than CHF 6 million of new financial support from Nestlé, the partnership will accelerate the delivery of vaccines to underserved communities around the world.
“The development of effective vaccines against COVID-19 has given the world hope,” said Jagan Chapagain, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “Our partnership with Nestlé will help secure quick and equitable access to vaccines to those most in need, particularly in low-income countries.”
Nestlé’s donation approach allows for a flexible response, including a contribution to the IFRC global appeal as well as targeted in-country support in vulnerable countries and regions including in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
Much of the work on the ground will be through the local structures of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It will focus on the establishment of vaccination sites, the transport of vaccines, information campaigns and promotion of the vaccination of high-risk groups.
Lisa Gibby, Head of Corporate Communications at Nestlé said:
“Nestlé’s collaboration with the IFRC during this pandemic builds on a two-decade-long partnership. Together, we can support vaccine equity and help communities everywhere find a way out of this crisis.”
This donation complements a recently announced contribution to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. This fund supports plans by COVAX to rapidly scale up the international delivery of vaccines to low-income countries.
We are also working directly with government authorities in some countries to provide donations and support for local vaccination programs.
Through these combined initiatives Nestlé has committed CHF 10 million to equitable vaccination efforts to date.
The support for equitable access to vaccines is just the latest phase in Nestlé’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. We will continue to engage in the fight against the pandemic and its consequences, protecting people, maintaining the global food supply and giving a helping hand to our local communities.
Nestlé and the IFRC are long-standing partners. In 2020, the two organizations responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in a joint effort aimed at supporting caregivers and strengthening healthcare systems. The program benefited millions of people in communities across 50 countries in all parts of the world.
