Illustrative image (Photo: Reuters)Hanoi (VNA) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has allocated 20.3million USD in technical assistance to help its developing members accessvaccines for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and establish systems to enableequitable and efficient vaccine distribution.
The funds will be available for ADB developing members to supportvaccine-related health system assessments and the development of countryreadiness plans to strengthen the capacity to access, introduce,deploy, deliver, and monitor vaccines safely and effectively, thebank said in its press release on November 17.
Funds will help members assess and strengthen vaccine cold chain andlogistics, infection control, supply and skills of health workers, riskcommunications, and real-time data capturing and monitoring. The technicalassistance will also support the identification and promotion of innovativecold chain and vaccine tracking technologies, it added.
Director General of ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change DepartmentWoochong Um said Asia and the Pacific has largely done well to limit the spreadof COVID-19. Ensuring access to a safe, effective, and equitable vaccine is thenext frontier in the fight against this virus.
“With these additional grant resources, ADB can immediately support ourdeveloping members to undertake urgent actions, including vaccine system assessmentsand vaccine deployment strategies, to ensure vaccines aredelivered efficiently and fairly,” Woochong Um said.
ADB expects to implement the technical assistance with its partners - UNICEFand the World Health Organisation (WHO), in coordination with COVAX, Gavi, theWorld Bank, bilateral agencies, among others.
The funds comprise 20 million USD from the ADB’s Technical AssistanceSpecial Fund (TASF) and 300,000 USD from the High-Level Technology Fundfinanced by the Government of Japan.
The ADB approved a 20 billion USD expanded assistance package inApril to support its developing members’ COVID-19 response./.
VNA
