PM to host Global Vaccine Summit to protect 300mn children

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson will on the 4th of June, host the Global Vaccine Summit, bringing together leaders from around the world at a virtual event to pledge their support to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to protect a further 300 million children against infectious diseases like measles, typhoid and polio.

A statement by Ndidiamaka Eze, Press and Public Affairs Officer, British Deputy High Commission, Lagos said the Global Vaccine Summit aims to raise at least US$7.4 billion to help Gavi save up to 8 million lives. The statement said as hosts, the UK is continuing its global leadership on tackling preventable deaths and stopping the spread of coronavirus.

“This builds on our recent role as co-lead for the Global Coronavirus

Response Initiative, with Japan, Germany, France, Canada, Norway, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia and the European Commission, which successfully raised 7.4 billion euros toward vaccines, tests and treatment to tackle the virus at the Coronavirus Global Response International Pledging Conference on 4 May” the statement said.

It also noted that the UK is collaborating with other international partners on the global effort to find a vaccine for the virus as soon as possible and ensure it’s available across the world, including in Nigeria.

“We are working closely with industry and the Bioindustry Association to accelerate vaccine development and manufacturing in the UK, so that when a vaccine is available, it can be made quickly at scale.