Sánchez announces that Spain will earmark almost €300 million to donate vaccines and fund health projects around the world

President Sánchez has been invited by the organisers to take part in the high-level segment of the Summit, which opened the event, in recognition of the leadership shown by Spain in the fight against the pandemic over the last two years.

The aim of the Summit is to redouble our collective efforts to end the acute phase of COVID-19 and to prepare for future global health threats.

During his speech, Pedro Sánchez warned that while the worst of the pandemic may be behind us, it is not yet over and there are "lessons to be learned" for future health crises. "Global health is a public good, no one would question that now, so we must act accordingly".

If, in 2020, the main goal was to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19, and in 2021 the challenge was to produce and distribute it worldwide, "today, in 2022, we need to put those vaccines within people's reach, and strengthening public health systems is vital to achieve that goal", which is why the president stressed that "much remains to be done".

In this context, Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will allocate $200 million (almost €200 million) for the donation of an additional 30 million COVID vaccines, through COVAX and bilaterally, which will be added to the 70 million doses already delivered.

Thus, if epidemiological conditions so require, Spain will reach the milestone of 100 million vaccines donated. Our country has achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and is already the second largest donor in Latin America and the seventh largest globally.

He also confirmed that €100 million will be allocated to strengthen public health systems through projects related to COVID-19, which will be implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

To be better prepared, vaccines must be developed against new variants that could extend the duration of the pandemic. Spain is supporting the development of a new protein-based vaccine by HIPRA Human Health, which will be particularly effective in this regard.

President Sánchez also stressed the need to improve global mechanisms for technology transfer to decentralise the production of health products in all regions. To this effect, Spain supports vaccine production in Latin America and joined the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Technology Access Group. In addition, last November the CSIC signed a licensing agreement for a serological antibody technology. It was the first transparent, global, non-exclusive licence for a COVID-19 health tool, which the WHO has described as "one of the top ten global health milestones in 2021".

For Pedro Sánchez, "we must protect, safeguard and invest in health and health workers". This is why Spain is co-leading the Effort Line in the framework of the Global Action Plan developed by the US and other partners. "We must act together," said the president, "and Spain is ready to do so".

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