IOC Announces Vaccine Donation for Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

Strategic Insights -

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has secured a donation of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE for participants in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. This move builds on a Memorandum of Understanding reached in May for the companies to donate vaccines to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. The IOC will collaborate with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to ensure athletes, officials, and Games stakeholders residing in their territories are vaccinated before traveling to China. IOC President Thomas Bach expressed gratitude towards Pfizer and BioNTech, stating this donation is a key part of plans for safe Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games next year.

Key Takeaways:

  • The IOC has secured a donation of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE for participants in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
  • The donation is an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding reached in May for the companies to donate vaccines to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
  • The IOC will work with NOCs and NPCs to ensure athletes, officials, and Games stakeholders are vaccinated before traveling to China.
  • It will be mandatory for Beijing 2022 participants to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to departure for China, or they will need to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival.
  • Exceptions to the vaccination requirement may be granted for athletes and team officials on a case-by-case basis, based on medical reasons.
  • The vaccine doses donated by Pfizer and BioNTech will not be taken out of existing vaccination programs, but will be in addition to existing quotas and planned deliveries around the world.
  • IOC President Thomas Bach praised Pfizer and BioNTech, stating their donation is crucial for the safe staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Statistics:

  • 14 days: The minimum time before departure for China that participants must be fully vaccinated to avoid quarantine.
  • 21 days: The duration of quarantine for participants who are not fully vaccinated upon arrival in Beijing.
  • No specific number: The total number of vaccine doses donated by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE is not mentioned in the press release.

Sources:

  • International Olympic Committee (IOC) press release.

https://www.olympic.org/news/vaccine-donation-from-pfizer-and-biontech-for-olympic-and-paralympic-winter-games-beijing-2022