Pedro Sánchez announces 125-million euro contribution to combat COVID-19 globally

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

President of the Government Sánchez underlined that the only way possible to defeat the pandemic will be through speedy and affordable access to vaccines, treatments and diagnoses around the world, always under the premise of "leaving no-one behind". To achieve this, said Pedro Sánchez, Spain will be on the front line of this "essential" initiative, making a contribution of 125 million euros.

Specifically, the President of the Government announced a 50-million euro donation to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance over the next 10 years, extending the pre-existing commitment though the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) until 2035; and a 75-million euro contribution to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) over the next 15 years. These contributions are in addition to the 100 million euros for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, announced in September 2019, for the period 2020-2022.

In addition to the financial contributions made by donors, the President of the Government called for global leaders to be capable of creating lasting collaboration structures to improve the response to other present and future global diseases. "Now more than ever, we must be united. Because united, we are stronger", said Pedro Sánchez.

The event called by the European Union is closely linked to the new "ACT Accelerator", an initiative headed up by the World Health Organization (WHO) together with the main international health organisations to coordinate existing efforts and thus obtain treatments and vaccines against COVID-19 at affordable prices as soon as possible. The President of the Government was an active participant at its launch on 24 April.

Non official translation