With the emergence of the Omicron variant, and continued challenges to equitable access to life-saving care and vaccines, the world is at a critical point in its global response to COVID-19, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement. That’s why the United States is providing an additional $580 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to support seven international organizations working in the global fight against COVID-19.
To date, the United States has shared over 350 million vaccine doses with more than 110 countries and economies worldwide. The United States is providing more than $19.6 billion for life-saving health, economic, and humanitarian COVID-19 assistance to its partners to fight this virus and its impacts.
“The rapid spread of the Omicron variant reinforces that we must all continue to accelerate our efforts to end this pandemic and that none of us are safe until all of us are safe,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.
With this additional $580 million, the United States is supporting seven such partners to accelerate the critical work they are doing to help end the pandemic.
This funding includes $280 million for the World Health Organization, including $50 million for the Contingency Fund for Emergencies, to help contain the spread of COVID-19, particularly through surveillance and laboratory testing.
$170 million will go to the United Nations Children’s Fund to expand its efforts to deliver COVID-19 vaccines around the world including to high-risk and vulnerable populations.
$75 million is slated to fund the Pan American Health Organization to provide technical cooperation to support implementation and monitoring of COVID-19 vaccinations in the Americas.
$20 million will go to the United Nations Development Program to help address the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19.
Another $20 million will assist the United Nations Population Fund in its efforts to mitigate higher rates of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity related to COVID-19.
$10 million will go to the Food and Agriculture Organization to improve health surveillance, early warning, and risk assessment tools for animal-borne diseases; and $5 million will fund UN Women programs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
These resources reflect the deep commitment of the United States and the American people to a healthier, more secure world, in keeping with President Biden’s commitment to elevate the global ambition to end the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.
