We are committed to supporting access to COVID-19 vaccines to the Pacific - Payne

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne says that they are committed to supporting access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to the Pacific.

In a tweet, Payne says they are continuing consultations with Pacific partners on vaccine strategies and how Australia can support.

Payne says they are standing together in the face of this pandemic.

Australia had announced last year that they are securing access to COVID-19 vaccines for Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia through a range of advance purchase agreements with manufacturers and through participation in the multilateral COVAX Facility.

They said they were committing an additional 500 million Australian dollars over three years towards this effort on top of the 23.2 million Australian dollars committed in the Budget.