Initially, Guernsey’s Overseas Aid & Development Commission pledged £85,000 out of its budget to buy corona virus vaccines for use in developing countries.

In December, the Commission also pledged to match donations made by members of the public, up to a maximum of £50,000. That target was met by the end of 2021 meaning a further £100,000 is also going to the VaccinAid appeal.

Deputy Chris Blin, President of the Overseas Aid Commission, said the £50,000 target was met much sooner than he had expected and the total £100,000 has now been donated to UNICEF. Coupled with the initial £85,000 donation, it means the people of Guernsey, and the government funds, have been able to buy 140,000 doses of corona virus vaccines which will all be used in countries with lower vaccination levels than ourselves. 

Deputy Chris Blin

Pictured: Deputy Chris Blin.

“The Commission set Islanders a challenge and they have stepped forward and made us proud.” said Deputy Blin. “I have witnessed at first hand the generosity of the Bailiwick’s public towards people living in the developing world and so I had no doubt that further donations would be received. However, I did not expect an additional £10,000 to be donated in just two weeks. I and the Commissioners would like to give their heartfelt thanks to all those who have contributed.

“The Commission has made its £50,000 matched funded donation directly to UNICEF UK which means that funds raised under the umbrella of the public appeal now total over £100,000 which is incredible. With the previous £85,000 donated by the Commission as an Emergency Aid Grant, the Bailiwick of Guernsey has now donated over £185,000 to VaccinAid which is equivalent to 140,000 vaccine doses for the developing world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that by the end of 2021 only approximately 9% of the African population had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so there is still a great deal of work to do.”

The UNICEF UK and Crowdfunder’s VaccinAid campaign is continuing to raise funds to deliver vaccines in developing counties.

Further donations can be made directly at vaccinaid.org/guernsey.

Pictured top: The UNICEF VACCINAid appeal is providing corona virus vaccines in developing counties.