Canada says refugee COVID-19 vaccines offer hope

Canada's international development minister says the world's first inoculation of a refugee with a COVID-19 vaccine this week is an important milestone in ending the pandemic everywhere.

Karina Gould tells The Canadian Press that inoculating the world's most vulnerable people offers a glimmer of hope that the pandemic can be brought under control everywhere.

As Co-Chair of the #COVAX AMC Engagement group, I will work with my colleagues to ensure equitable access to testing and successful vaccines. 🇨🇦🌎

Read my statement ➡️ https://t.co/jT84FxFEbi pic.twitter.com/FJ2A6jVqdS

— Karina Gould (@karinagould) January 15, 2021

A woman living in the northern Jordanian city of Irbid who had fled northern Iraq became the first United Nations registered refugee to receive the vaccine on Thursday.

Before the pandemic Canada committed $2.1 billion in security, humanitarian and development funds to help Jordan and neighbouring Lebanon cope with the massive influx of refugees they face due to the crises in Syria and Iraq.

Since the pandemic, Canada has committed more than $1 billion to international efforts to buy vaccine doses for low- and middle-income countries.

Rema Jamous Imseis, the Canadian representative for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, says if refugees aren't vaccinated they run the risk of infecting people in their host national populations.