As we get into the spirit of giving this festive season, how about a gift that could save a life – a Covid-19 vaccine for a person in need?
Created by the WHO Foundation, Go Give One is a campaign to fund vaccines in the world’s poorest countries.
Almost 7 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally but just 3 per cent of people in low-income countries have had a jab. With the risk of mutations like Omicron, vaccine inequity and rising infection rates impact us all.
For a donation of as little as £4, Go Give One will buy a Covid-19 vaccine for someone in the world who needs it. The campaign hopes to get 50 million people around the world to participate over the Christmas season.
Dr Thato Mosehle, an advocate for Go Give One, says that “we live in a world of the haves and have nots and it is unfortunate that we are seeing the same trend when it comes to the Covid-19 vaccines. Without truly equitable access to the life-saving vaccines, we will never be able to curb the threat of the new variants, which ultimately affects us all.”
The Omicron variant was identified last week in southern Africa, where vaccination rates are still low.
All donations made by December 31 will be matched by the ELMA Vaccines and Immunization Foundation, organisers say, packing this virtuous stocking filler with even more of a punch.
