A new global initiative to reopen the world of travel by promoting the global COVID-19 vaccination efforts of UNICEF has been launched by Expedia Group, with a goal of building on a minimum donation of USD$10 million.
The push, dubbed ‘Give The World A Shot’, will see Expedia and its network of brands including Hotels.com, Vrbo, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, eBookers and CheapTickets make a donation to UNICEF for every trip purchased through its mobile apps.
A key part of the initiative is to ensure some of the world’s poorest and remote areas gain access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for protection against the virus that has brought the world to its knees over the past 18 months.
Expedia says travelling won’t be the same until the whole world is open once again and that to get there as quickly as possible, everyone must help to accelerate the global vaccine rollout and to ensure equitable access to vaccines to populations everywhere. Currently, less than 1% of the global vaccine supply is reaching low-income countries.
Expedia Group Vice Chairman and CEO, Peter Kern, said the biggest obstacle preventing people from being able to travel once again is the lack of access to vaccines.
“We support a global and equitable approach to vaccine distribution and embrace efforts to help protect everyone, everywhere,” Kern said.
“We are proud to contribute to UNICEF and what will be the single largest and most rapid global vaccine deployment ever.
“I hope other companies, and anyone else who can, will join us in accelerating vaccine rollout, fighting global inequity, and igniting a movement that will help bring the world together. We all must do our part for the world to be truly open again.”
UNICEF is the world’s largest children’s charity and works to ensure equitable access to disadvantaged children and families in remote regions of more than 190 countries and territories. The charity’s President and CEO, Michael J. Nyenhuis, said UNICEF won’t stop until the fight has been won.