Many people in the UK have now received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. But millions of people around the world will have to wait until at least 2022 for a vaccination (Oxfam, 2020).
Countries like Brazil and India have recently been in the spotlight as the majority of their populations have not been offered a vaccine yet – and, as cases of coronavirus continue to rise day by day, millions remain at risk.
We refuse to let people living in poverty be left behind. As followers of Jesus, we are committed to following his example of caring for all people – ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40).
Help end vaccine inequality
The only way out of this pandemic is to recover together – no country is safe until all countries are safe. We are campaigning for everyone in every country to have access to an approved Covid-19 vaccine.
Our local partners are advocating for governments around the world to include vulnerable groups, such as refugees, in their vaccination programmes. And we are asking the UK government to do even more to support lower-income countries.
We are also helping prepare communities for the roll out of a vaccine, including equipping church leaders to share accurate information about Covid-19 vaccines.
Help those in urgent need
It is crucial that we continue to help those most affected by the pandemic as they wait for a vaccine. Many people have been pushed further into poverty due to the economic impact of lockdowns, and they remain at risk from the virus.
Throughout the pandemic we have been working with churches and organisations in more than 50 countries to support the most vulnerable with emergency food and hygiene supplies. We urgently need your help to continue this life-saving work – before, during and after vaccines become available.
