Australia is stepping up its support to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end in our region and globally. Vaccine equity and human rights are central to our approach.

Australia will continue to take an active role in our region, and ensure we play our part to support global vaccine equity, including through supporting the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). We are working closely with Quad partners Japan, the US and India to support last-mile delivery to hard-to-reach populations, especially in Southeast Asia.

Our approach is centred on a tailored bilateral dose sharing program with our region, which prioritises end to end support, strengthening local health systems to deliver vaccines safely and to those who need them most, and addressing vaccine hesitancy.

Australia has already shared more than 25 million doses across the region, part of a commitment to share 60 million doses by the end of 2022.

But we know that vaccination is more than just doses, it's about ¬distribution, administration, training, planning, and support to get vaccine doses in arms through national rollouts.

Our vaccine delivery support – including ultra-cold chain equipment; health worker training; health information systems; efforts to counter vaccine hesitancy – has contributed to many national roll outs across our region.

Australia works with partners to address situations of inequity and to mitigate situations of discrimination and exclusion from accessing COVID-19 vaccines, in a way which promotes safety and protects human rights.

Australia urges all States to work collaboratively to bring an end to the acute phase of this pandemic, save lives, promote human rights, and protect our shared prosperity.