Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1747. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vaccines donated by Ireland through the COVAX programme, by month, since initiation, in tabular form; if he will detail the efforts of the Government to continue assisting nations struggling to contain Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20806/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority for Ireland and the EU. Ireland has committed to donate up to 5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and over 1.88 million of these have already been delivered, mainly through the COVAX global vaccine initiative. In addition to the already donated doses, Ireland has put forward a further 2.1 million doses for donation through COVAX. The below table sets out the vaccine doses delivered through COVAX to date.

While vaccine supply is now abundant, global vaccination rates remain too low. Almost 59% of the global adult population has been vaccinated while the average vaccination rate for countries in Africa is just 15%.  The vaccine donation landscape is becoming increasingly complex with many developing countries experiencing significant absorption, administration and hesitancy challenges that prevent matching available supply with need. 

Ireland's approach to the global pandemic response focuses on the furthest behind, builds on lessons from the HIV and Ebola crises, and emphasises multilateral approaches. The pandemic response must include vaccine sharing but also enhanced investment in health system strengthening more broadly. Since the onset of the pandemic, Ireland has invested over €100 million per annum in Global Health. Ireland's financial commitment includes contributions for the pandemic response, with a deliberately sustained investment in health system strengthening to combat pre-existing conditions and better prepare for and respond to new and emerging health threats.