J-Lo, H.E.R. and Foo Fighters to star in streamed concert to fund COVID-19 vaccines

Advocacy organisation Global Citizen has called on governments, businesses and philanthropists to pledge more funds to help get at least two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses for lower-income countries amid the pandemic.

Reports indicate that several African countries may not receive enough COVID-19 vaccines to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus.

Global Citizen says donations to raise money for COVID-19 vaccines can be made during the global streaming concert on May the 8th.

Singers, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, the Foo Fighters and Eddie Vedder will be among those due to appear in the Vax Live Concert.

Global Citizen Director for Southern and East Africa, Chebet Chikumbu, says “The event is in a broadcast format. We have been able to collaborate with world leaders, artists, the business community and powered by our global citizens to ensure that we can witness a financial commitment being made towards this very important endeavour.”

Global Citizen calling for equitable vaccine rollout:

“VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World” will be hosted by singer Selena Gomez and also feature the Foo Fighters and Eddie Vedder, according to organiser Global Citizen, an international advocacy group.

“This is really an opportunity to call on world leaders to make sure that the 27 million heroic healthcare workers around the world that don’t yet have access to a vaccine can get access over the coming months,” Global Citizen Chief Executive Hugh Evans told Reuters.

The event will also campaign for fair and equal access to vaccines for all.

“The reality is that right now many of the wealthiest nations are starting to stockpile vaccines,” said Evans, adding the broadcast would urge nations to donate excess doses and give financial support to the Covax facility, backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).

Covax aims to secure 2 billion vaccine doses for lower-income countries by the end of 2021.

“The great news is there have already been many nations around the world that are starting to donate doses,” Evans said.” Australia, for example, donated a million doses to Papua New Guinea. We know the Norwegian government decided to make a donation of doses.

“There’s really great momentum that is building,” he added.