Global Ministries to lead update on UNICEF’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort

“Love Beyond Borders” webinar slated for Feb.17, 2022

February 11, 2022 | ATLANTA

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

Media Contact:

Dan Curran for Global Ministries/UMCOR
770-658-9586
DanCurran@CurranPR.com

An update on “Love Beyond Borders: The Interfaith Movement to End the Pandemic” and UNICEF’s 2022 priorities for equitable vaccine distribution around the world through ACT-A/COVAX will be shared during a webinar slated for Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, at 7 p.m. ET. Registration is free and open to the public at https://unicefusa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5INLxfmDRLy4_h09XJHXdA.

According to Kathy Griffith, Global Health Team Lead / Senior Technical Adviser for Global Ministries, who will serve as moderator, panelists will discuss updates on the progress being made on vaccine distribution and how faith communities are partnering in this movement.

Announced in October 2021, “Love Beyond Borders: The Interfaith Movement to End the Pandemic” seeks to engage The United Methodist Church in supporting UNICEF’s global COVID-19 response, which includes distributing safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility, diagnostics and treatments.

Through this initiative, members of The United Methodist Church are contributing to UNICEF’s historic efforts in leading the procurement and supply of 4.1 billion COVID-19 vaccines globally in 2022. For just $19.50, members could help provide 10 people with two doses of the vaccine. Global Ministries, the United Methodist mission and humanitarian response agency, has created Advance #3022671 for this effort to ensure that 100% of donations go directly to UNICEF USA for this project.

“Since the start of the humanitarian crisis, Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have responded with health boards, medical professionals, disaster management coordinators and faith leaders to help, as comprehensively as possible, manage the crisis and strengthen existing work,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary of United Methodist Global Ministries and UMCOR. “It has been said that no one is safe until everyone is safe. Helping to fund the equitable distribution of vaccines through this Advance will help United Methodists play a key role in efforts to make that a global reality.”

The coronavirus pandemic continues to have severe consequences, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable populations. Accelerating the rate at which all people are vaccinated is the key to ending the pandemic, alleviating suffering and preventing deaths.

Global Ministries and UMCOR have supported partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North America as they work to respond to the pandemic and its impacts. Grants have been awarded for personal protective and essential medical equipment; cleaning solution, soap and handwashing stations; assistance with salaries, livelihoods, food, rent and utilities; awareness and training in COVID-19 prevention; and vaccine promotion.

Activities with partners and communities have included training and grants, directed and administered through Global Ministries’ Global Health program.

According to modeling conducted by Northeastern University, 61% of deaths globally could be averted if an effective vaccine were distributed to all countries proportional to their populations. While many wealthy countries have made significant inroads into vaccinating their citizens, this is not the case in less-developed countries. The Love Beyond Borders campaign will support UNICEF and COVAX’s initiative to equitably distribute vaccines around the world.

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About the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church

Global Ministries is the worldwide mission and development agency of The United Methodist Church. Founded in 1819, Global Ministries today supports more than 200 missionaries in over 60 countries, including the United States. It has personnel, projects and partners in 115 countries. Founded in 1940, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the global humanitarian relief agency of The United Methodist Church and is a part of Global Ministries. Learn more about Global Ministries by visiting umcmission.org or by following facebook.com/GlobalMinistries and twitter.com/UMCmission.