Pfizer And BioNTech To Donate Vaccines For Olympic Athletes
May 6, 2021, 10:14 AM
A shadow is cast as the sun sets behind the Olympic Rings on April 21, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese government is expected to impose a third state of emergency in Tokyo soon amid an increase in cases of Covid-19 coronavirus in what experts have said is the fourth wave of the virus to hit the country. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has stated that any declaration would not affect the hosting of the Olympics which are now only three months away. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Vaccine developers Pfizer and BioNTech will donate doses to inoculate athletes and officials preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, the IOC said Thursday.
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Delivery of doses is set to begin this month to give Olympic delegations time to be fully vaccinated with a second shot before arriving in Tokyo for the games, which open on July 23.
It’s the second major vaccination deal for the International Olympic Committee. An agreement was announced in March between the IOC and Olympic officials in China to buy and distribute Chinese vaccines ahead of the Tokyo Games and next year’s Beijing Winter Games.
The new Pfizer offer gives the IOC greater coverage worldwide ahead of Tokyo with most countries yet to authorize emergency use of Chinese vaccines.
With @BioNTech_Group, we signed a memorandum of understanding w @Olympics to work w national Olympic committees & governments to supply #COVID19 vaccine doses to athletes & national delegations participating in the Olympic & Paralympic Games in #Tokyo2020: https://t.co/aWuSKPxyda pic.twitter.com/oEHpJ3KlBP
— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) May 6, 2021
“We are inviting the athletes and participating delegations of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to lead by example and accept the vaccine where and when possible,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.
The Pfizer donation followed talks between the firm’s chairman and CEO, Albert Bourla, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
“Following this conversation, the Japanese government had a meeting with the IOC and now the donation plan has been realized,” Pfizer said in a statement.
The IOC said any vaccination program must be done “in accordance with each country’s vaccination guidelines and consistent with local regulations.”
The Olympic Spirit is beautiful and universal.
In 100 days, the world unites at the #TokyoOlympics. pic.twitter.com/LELuN4DlsK
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) April 14, 2021
The IOC-China vaccine deal includes two doses being made available to the general public for each dose received by an Olympic participant in that country.
The Spanish Olympic Committee said Thursday the nearly 600 members of its delegation traveling to Japan will start being vaccinated with Pfizer doses this month. Other countries, including Australia, South Korea and Italy, have also been making arrangements to vaccinate their teams.
