Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has made the single largest donation to date to UNICEF in the effort to provide global vaccinations for COVID-19.

According to a press release from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the church is working with UNICEF to ensure countries have safe, fast and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines as doses become available.

The $20 million grant will support UNICEF’s global work with the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator and the vaccines arm of the ACT Accelerator called the COVAX Facility.

“COVID-19 is the first truly global crisis we have seen in our lives. No matter where we live, the pandemic affects every person, including children. There has never been a more urgent need to work together. This grant for our important role in COVAX, from Latter-day Saint Charities, is the single biggest donation from a private sector partner that we’ve received to date,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director. “We hope that their generosity inspires other organizations, businesses and individuals to help us ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.”

UNICEF and it's partners are hoping to distribute 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines in approximately 196 countries by the end of 2021.

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The donation will also support UNICEF as it works with countries to strengthen its cold and supply chains, train health workers, address misinformation, and build trust in vaccines and in the health systems delivering them.

Latter-day Saint Charities reports it has participated in or led 1,050 COVID-19 relief projects thus far in 152 countries.

Latter-day Saint Charities and UNICEF USA entered into partnership in 2013, working together to support children and their families in the areas of immunization, emergency response, and education and development needs of refugees.

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

 

 

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