Greta Thunberg to donate 100,000 euros to help with vaccine rollout

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is joining the fight against Covid-19.

On Monday, the Swedish teenager announced that her foundation, The Right Livelihood Foundation, will donate 100,000 euros ($120,290) to support more equitable global Covid-19 vaccine distribution.

Thunberg urged world leaders to address vaccine inequity, highlighting the contrast between shots delivered in high-income countries than those administered in low-income countries.

“The international community, governments and vaccine developers must step up their game and address the tragedy that is vaccine inequity,” Thunberg said in a media briefing with the World Health Organization. “Just with the climate crisis, those who are the most vulnerable need to be prioritized and global problems require global solutions.”

Thunberg’s request comes as the World Health Organization announced 5.2 million new confirmed Covid-19 cases over the latest week. According to the U.N., it is the largest weekly count yet.

In addition, Thunberg highlighted that 1 in 4 people in high-income countries have received the vaccine, a vast contrast to the 1 in 500 in middle and lower-income countries that have been vaccinated.

“The international community, governments and vaccine developers must step up their game and address the tragedy that is vaccine inequity,” Thunberg said. “Just with the climate crisis, those who are the most vulnerable need to be prioritized and global problems require global solutions.”

Read more:

• A complete timeline of Lizzo’s drunken DM drama with Chris Evans

• The European Super League has been widely derided but at least the memes are funny

• Sunday Times criticised for saying people ‘secretly enjoyed’ racist Prince Philip comment

• Kanye West insists Kim Kardashian didn’t initiate divorce – he did

• 13 key moments from Prince Philip’s funeral – In pictures

In a statement last week, the WHO condemned what it describes as a “shocking imbalance” in the distribution of vaccines between high- and low-income countries. They hope the initiative will help change that within the coming months.

“I urge the global community to follow @GretaThunberg‘s example and do what they can, in support of #COVAX, to protect the world’s most vulnerable people from the #COVID19 pandemic.” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization tweeted.

Thunberg, only 18-years-old is the youngest person to contribute to the initiative.