Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Of course, leaders were focused on emphasising the critical importance of productive partnerships for the timely and equitable distribution of vaccines, and the government's regional vaccine access and health security initiative will contribute very positively on this objective. We announced formally that Australia will support Pacific island countries to achieve full population coverage with safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. That will contribute strongly to our important regional partnership on vaccines and was very warmly welcomed by leaders. Senator Seselja and I have been discussing Australia's commitments individually with respective leaders across the Pacific over the past month.

It will also build on Australia's contribution to the global COVAX Facility fund for developing countries, facilitating delivery of more than a million doses to Pacific island countries by the middle of this year. Our package is end to end. It includes helping secure doses and technical support for safe and effective vaccine rollout, including supply chain distribution, and assessments of vaccine safety, efficacy and quality and capacity building for health workforces. (Time expired)