Scotiabank supports UNICEFs COVID-19 vaccination programmes 

Kingston, Jamaica – May 12, 2021 – Scotiabank has announced that it is supporting UNICEF’s COVID-19 vaccination roll out and preparedness programmes across 4 territories in the Caribbean - Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago with a contribution of CAD$250,000.

UNICEF has been a key ally in the region’s vaccine distribution efforts. In recent weeks, Caribbean territories have received their first batches of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the global effort between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

UNICEF has been working with local Ministries of Health in each of these territories on its communication and educational campaigns. Scotiabank’s donation will help strengthen advocacy through multi-channel community engagement activities, focusing on driving adult vaccination as an important step towards controlling the pandemic.

Anya Schnoor, Executive Vice President, Caribbean, Central America and Uruguay, Scotiabank commented “We are pleased to collaborate with UNICEF in support of their vaccine rollout efforts and education programs. As community members, it’s important we do our part to help mitigate the health and economic impacts across the Caribbean so we can get beyond this pandemic safely."

Mariko Kagoshima, UNICEF Representative for Jamaica, said “We are grateful to Scotiabank for standing alongside Jamaica in such a critical moment of need. Their contribution will help us further support the Ministry of Health & Wellness on the national vaccine rollout by establishing focus groups to help meet public demand for information that is responsive to their needs. We continue to welcome such impactful private sector collaboration in helping to boost our COVID-19 response and reduce the harmful secondary impacts of the pandemic upon children and their families.”  

UNICEF is the world's leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach spans more than 190 countries and territories, ensuring we are on the ground to help the most disadvantaged children. While part of the UN system, UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations to finance our life-saving work.

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