COVID-19 is one of the greatest health challenges our world has ever faced. After over three years, in May 2023 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 no longer a public health emergency of international concern. But, USAID’s work is far from done.
USAID remains committed to combating the effects of COVID-19, helping partner countries to integrate response activities into existing health systems and strengthen global readiness for future pandemic threats by scaling up testing and treatment, expanding access to oxygen, and vaccinating populations at greatest risk of death and disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
We need to attack this virus globally, not just at home, because it’s in America’s self-interest to do so. The virus knows no boundaries. —President Joe Biden
USAID’s Global Response
USAID has been at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to fight COVID-19 around the world, providing more than $10.6 billion in funding to intensify the fight against the virus, aiding in the donation of more than 680 million vaccines, and supporting vaccination in over 120 countries as of September 2023.
Only through collaboration can we collectively overcome COVID-19. —Administrator Samantha Power
USAID’s Programs
USAID has built on decades of global health leadership combating infectious diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and zika to fight COVID-19 along with other vaccine preventable diseases. USAID programs helped deliver and administer COVID-19 vaccines around the globe, expand access to COVID-19 testing and treatment, protect and train health workers, deliver life-saving health commodities and equipment, share accurate and reliable public health information, and safeguard global health security.
Moving forward, USAID will continue to show up, lead, and apply lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to bolster health systems and enhance health security now and in the future.
Vaccines continue to save countless lives, maintain public health, and reduce the threat of developing more dangerous and deadly coronavirus variants that pose a global threat. — Former USAID COVID-19 Response Team Director Beth Tritter
USAID’s Efforts Accelerating COVID-19 Vaccination
To advance the fight in countries encountering barriers to vaccine uptake, in December 2021 the U.S. government launched the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX), a landmark initiative to provide leadership, coordination, and financial and technical support from COVID-19 vaccine dose delivery and allocation, to shots in arms. Led by USAID, the whole-of-government effort worked to increase equitable vaccination by vaccinating priority populations–such as immunocompromised, high risk groups, and those living in hard-to-reach places–and increasing demand.
Through Global VAX, the U.S. government’s unified response contributed to an unprecedented acceleration in COVID-19 vaccine delivery, demand, and uptake globally. Learn more about the impact of the Global VAX initiative.
The spread of COVID-19 has shown that an infectious disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere. USAID is dedicated to ending this pandemic for everyone, everywhere.
Health worker in Indonesia wearing personal protective equipment shares information with a patient after she received a COVID-19 vaccine.
Resources
- USAID COVID-19 Integration Compendium into PHC
- COVID-19 Integration Collection
- WHO/UNICEF integration considerations document
- Essential Resource Collection: Integrating COVID-19 Vaccination into Primary Health Care
- Essential Resource Collection: Resilient Supply Chains during Public Health Emergencies
- Essential Resource Collection: Data Management and Digital Health for COVID-19 Vaccination
- Essential Resource Collection: Reaching High Priority Populations with the COVID-19 Vaccine
- Open Critical Care Portal
- Test-to-Treat Resource: Scientific and Technical Information on COVID-19 Therapeutics
- USAID COVID-19 fact sheets
- American Rescue Plan
- U.S. Global Response and Recovery Framework
- COVID-19 Safety Plan & Workplace Guidelines
- CDC COVID-19 information
- Get involved