Latter-day Saint Charities announced its support of and partnership with UNICEF’s COVID-19 response to get vaccines to 196 countries by the end of 2021.
The Church donated $20 million to support the vaccination goal on Feb. 26, a press release says.
This grant follows a $3 million donation in 2020 for clean water, hygiene tools and sanitation equipment in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“To date, Latter-day Saint Charities has supported 1,050 COVID-19 relief projects in 152 countries,” the press release says.
Church leaders have spoken out in support of the vaccine and their partnership with UNICEF in the past two months.
“As more adults in vulnerable communities are vaccinated, critical health, nutritional and educational services for children in need will be able to resume. We hold hope in our hearts not only of overcoming the pandemic, but of seeing a brighter future for all children and their families,” said Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé.
This joint initiative between the Church and UNICEF to immunize people around the globe started in 2013.
UNICEF’s goal is to help those, especially children, in disadvantaged countries get the care that they need. It will work to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine through its COVAX Facility.
“We express gratitude to UNICEF’s team and organization. They have done so much to care for children and their families and help them meet basic needs and fulfill their potential,” Bishop Caussé said.
