Ljubljana - Slovenia will donate EUR 500,000 to Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, this and next year, the government decided on Thursday. The country will also donate 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Egypt.

According to the government, Slovenia will this year donate EUR 350,000 to COVAX, and EUR 150,000 next year.

The contributions will be used to help developing countries and count as official developed aid, the Government Communication Office said after today's government session.

The cabinet also decided today to donate 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Egypt, which has requested vaccines due to a poor epidemiological situation, extremely low vaccination rate and shortage of vaccines.

The government noted it was in Slovenia's interest to have as many people vaccinated as possible also outside the country to reach higher collective immunity, especially in countries where Slovenians travel to a lot as tourists or on business, such as Egypt.