Guernsey’s Overseas Aid & Development Commission has announced that it will match fund the donations from the public to the Guernsey UNICEF VaccinAid appeal.
For every £1 donated by 31st December, 2021, the Commission will also donate £1, up to the value of £50,000. To date just under £40,000 has been raised thanks to the generosity of Islanders so this means a further £40,000 has already been pledged by the Commission.
The UNICEF UK and Crowdfunder’s VaccinAid campaign, is helping to deliver the biggest vaccine drive in history to the poorer people of the world. The World Health Organisation states that at the end of September, only 4.4% of the population of Africa had been fully vaccinated.
Deputy Chris Blin, President of the Commission, said: “I wish to thank all those that have already donated and let them know that their
donations will be doubled by the Commission. I also wish to encourage those that have not yet donated, to ‘Give the World a Christmas Gift’ by supporting the cause.
Any further donations received by 31st December will also be doubled by the Commission up to £50,000. This means that the appeal has the potential to reach at least £100,000. Along with the Commission’s previous donation this would provide over 140,000 much needed vaccine doses to the developing world. As recent developments have shown – no one is safe until everybody is safe.”
Islanders who wish to support the campaign can make their donations and register their events here at www.vaccinaid.org/guernsey . The money raised will be used by UNICEF, the only organisation present in all countries participating in COVAX and which has an established global supply chain network. COVAX is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.
