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As COVID cases continue to rise globally, certified B Corp Intrepid Travel has launched a new fundraising and advocacy campaign aimed at supporting global vaccine equity. This is an integral component of saving lives and restarting economies, with current data showing less than 1% of COVID-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to low-income countries.

Via The Intrepid Foundation, the company has committed to raise AUD $100,000 for UNICEF Australia, including an upfront kickstart donation of AUD $50,000, to support universal access to COVID-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, its teams around the world are working diligently to provide easier access to COVID-19 vaccines in remote communities and educating staff to help resolve vaccine hesitancy.

Intrepid is responding to the immense health and humanitarian crisis facing the world. While some developed countries have successfully accessed COVID vaccines and rolled out mass vaccination programs, that is not the case in most countries. Vaccine hesitancy and other practical challenges around access are also contributing to low vaccination rates globally.

“Intrepid was founded on ideals of inclusivity and equality and we’re very concerned about the unequal access to vaccines around the world. Ending the pandemic is not only about you and your vaccine,” says James Thornton, Intrepid Travel CEO. “We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can safely and fairly access vaccinations, in every country around the world.”

Through its donation and as a member of the COVID Vaccination Alliance of UNICEF Australia, along with the likes of Qantas and eBay, Intrepid will help power the largest and fastest vaccination operation for humanity with the hope of putting an end to the pandemic.

“As we are dealing with a global health crisis, we need to work together more than we ever have before to vaccinate the world,” said UNICEF Australia CEO Tony Stuart. “We cannot leave any community or country behind in this history-making mission; everyone has a role to play and that is why Intrepid’s partnership and support as a member of the COVID Vaccination Alliance of UNICEF Australia is vital in helping to achieve vaccine equity.”

UNICEF is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history as part of the Global COVAX Facility, which aims to see two billion vaccine doses delivered in 190 countries to those who need them most by the end of 2021 and one billion syringes procured and delivered by the end of 2021. UNICEF is the largest procurer and distributor of vaccines globally, and already vaccinates one in every two children in the world.

Intrepid’s teams are also taking practical steps to help support access to and participation in vaccines – examples include:

  • Paid vaccination leave to make it easier for all staff globally to receive vaccinations as soon as they’re eligible to do so.

  • In Peru, to help communities in the remote Sacred Valley access vaccines, Intrepid has provided free transport to a vaccination hub for trekking porters and their families, as well as accommodation. The company is also advocating for vaccine equality in the country through local government channels.  

  • In Sri Lanka, to help address vaccine hesitancy, the company hosted an information and Q&A session with a Professor Neelika Malavige, a member of the World Health Organization’s technical advisory committee and a member of the executive Committee of the International Society of Infectious Diseases and National Covid vaccine Committee.

To support the safe reopening of tourism, Intrepid has introduced mandatory vaccination* for all travellers and tour leaders from 1 September 2021. This vaccination policy overlays a comprehensive health and safety approach, which follows all local regulations and requirements. More than 94 per cent of travellers on Intrepid trips since May 2021 have been fully vaccinated.

Intrepid is also asking its community to support UNICEF Australia’s campaign by giving to ‘Give the World a Shot’ via The Intrepid Foundation. One hundred per cent of donations given to The Intrepid Foundation will go to supporting UNICEF’s work delivering Covid-19 vaccines to some of the most vulnerable and most disadvantaged countries around the world.

*Excludes Australia, NZ and Cook Islands due to the very low risk environment due to strict government lockdowns and other restrictions, including on travel.