Additional COVID-19 Funding to Help Lao PDR Reach 50% Vaccination Target
An additional US$15 million has been made available to help the Lao PDR stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, following an agreement between the World Bank and the government. This additional funding is split between an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $10 million and a $5 million grant from the Health Emergency Response and Preparedness Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

Following the approval of an initial $18 million COVID-19 response project in April 2020, the Lao government requested additional resources this year to expand the deployment of vaccines. The new funds bring the total value of the project to $33 million and will be used to further finance the rollout of vaccines already pledged by the worldwide COVAX initiative and other donors. The funds will also be used to help procure enough additional vaccines to allow Lao PDR to vaccinate 50 percent of its population.