The Pfizer-Biontech vaccine will be available to athletes and delegations from all countries participating in the Tokyo Olympics. Pfizer and BioNTech and the International Olympic Committee (CIO) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to donate the doses in view of the expected sporting event which should start on 23 July 2021. The agreement provides that Pfizer and BioNTech will coordinate with National Olympic Committees around the world to help them address the local need for vaccine doses for national delegations to participate in the Games. Delivery of initial doses to participating delegations is expected to start at the end of May where possible to ensure that Olympic participants receive second doses prior to arrival in Tokyo. “The National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will work with their local governments to coordinate distribution in accordance with each country’s vaccination guidelines and in accordance with local regulations,” the IOC says. “This vaccine donation is another tool in our ‘toolbox’ of measures to help make the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games safe and secure for all participants, and to show solidarity with our kind Japanese guests, “said IOC President Thomas Bach. “We are inviting the athletes and delegations participating in the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to lead by example and to accept the vaccine where and when possible. By taking the vaccine, they can send a powerful message that vaccination is not only about personal health, but also about solidarity and consideration of the well-being of others in their communities. We would like to thank Pfizer and BioNTech for this very generous donation to support the vaccination of athletes and participants in the Games ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games “, added Bach. , said: “We see the importance of vaccination around the world. We encourage athletes and participants in the Games to take the vaccine whenever possible. Vaccination is an important tool to protect not only themselves but their communities as well.” During a conversation between Albert Bourla, President and CEO, Pfizer, and Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan, which is the host country of Tokyo 2020, Bourla made an offer to donate the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for athletes. and their delegations participating in Tokyo 2020. Following this conversation, the Japanese government had a meeting with the IOC and now the donation plan has been achieved. “With hundreds of millions of vaccines already administered and hundreds of millions still to be done, Pfizer is committed, together with BioNTech, to do everything possible to help end this pandemic and help bring the world back to a sense of normality, ”said Albert Bourla, president and chief executive officer, Pfizer. “The return of the Olympic and Paralympic Games represents a monumental moment of world unity and peace after a grueling year of isolation and devastation. We are proud to play a role in providing vaccines to athletes and their national Olympic delegations wherever possible. “” Providing vaccines to Games participants is one of the key ways to help ensure that the Games are as safe and successful as possible. Over 430 million doses already delivered, our vaccine continues to help protect lives around the world and bring us back to our normal lives, ”said Ugur Sahin, MD, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech. “This year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games are a historic moment that represents the global community and how we stand together. We are honored to be able to contribute the vaccine to support the safety of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “The announcement follows the release of the second edition of the Playbooks, which provide detailed information and guidelines to the various stakeholder groups participating in the Olympic Games and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
