UK to begin global vaccine rollout to Commonwealth, Asian nations

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Britain announced Wednesday it would begin donating millions of coronavirus vaccine doses around the world, including Commonwealth countries, following its pledge to provide 100 million jabs globally by next June.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the rollout of an initial nine million inoculations from Friday would go to Kenya, Jamaica and several Asian nations.

"They will go to countries, vulnerable places like Laos and Cambodia, partners like Indonesia, Malaysia (and) a range of Commonwealth countries from Kenya to Jamaica," he said.

"This demonstrates we're not just doing it because it's in our own interest. It shows global Britain as a life-saving force for good in the world."

Britain has committed to sharing 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots by the middle of 2022, with 30 million to be sent by the end of the year.

Around 80 percent of the contribution is set to go through the Covax program – which aims to ensure fair distribution of jabs -- and the rest directly to individual countries.

'We are sharing'

During the early stages of distribution, five million doses are being offered to Covax. It will distribute them to lower-income countries in "an equitable allocation system which prioritizes delivering vaccines to people who most need them," the UK foreign office said.

Another 4 million doses will be shared directly with countries in need, with Indonesia to receive 600,000 doses and Jamaica sent 300,000.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will agree an initial offer of 817,000 doses for Kenya when he meets President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday.

The pair are due to host a fundraising summit in London on Thursday focused on global education efforts attended by other world leaders, business, charity, education and youth representatives.