This archive report was first published on 4 May 2021.
On May 3, 2021, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Sweden's Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr Per Olsson Fridh, at WHO's headquarters in Geneva.
Dr Tedros praised Sweden's announcement to share 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the COVAX Facility, saying it was a 'superb gesture' that must be replicated urgently by governments around the world to accelerate the equitable rollout of vaccines globally.
Sweden's donation is timely, as COVAX urgently needs 20 million doses during the second quarter of 2021 to cover interruptions in supply triggered by increased demands for vaccines in India, where COVAX's main supplier of the AstraZeneca product is based.
Dr Tedros added that such support will ensure that people in vulnerable countries, especially in Africa, will be able to receive their second doses through the COVAX initiative.
Several other countries have made similar commitments recently, including New Zealand and France.
