Some 70 personalities in the arts and entertainment signed a letter that call on global leaders to step up vaccine efforts before the end of 2021.
In a letter organized by nonprofit CARE and the org’s global advocate Iman, the appeal came in time for the United Nations General Assembly and the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted by President Joe Biden.
Among the celebrities who signed the letter include Eva Longoria, Anne Hathaway, Richard Gere Ciara, Debra Messing, Annie Lennox, Russell Wilson, Rachel Zoe, etc.
"We are joining with CARE to call on global leaders to make 7 billion vaccine doses available before the end of 2021, and an additional 7 billion doses by mid-2022 to fully vaccinate 70 percent of the world by next summer," the letter read.
For 75 years, CARE has led the way to a better life for the world’s most vulnerable people. In 2020, CARE worked in over 100 countries, reaching more than 90 million people through 1,300 projects.
The full letter:
"COVID-19 is now a man-made pandemic of apathy. Only 2% of people in low-income countries have received a single dose, leaving the world’s most vulnerable to face COVID with no protection. This situation also lets new variants, like Delta, emerge and ravage the lives of millions.
"We are joining with CARE to call on global leaders to make 7 billion vaccine doses available before the end of 2021, and an additional 7 billion doses by mid-2022 to fully vaccinate 70% of the world by next summer.
"To get this done the world community must also invest in last-mile delivery systems, public education, and frontline healthcare workers to get vaccines from tarmacs into arms. Millions of doses could go to waste because low-income countries don’t have the support they need to get vaccines to vulnerable people.
"We can save millions of lives — and trillions in further economic damage — by meeting this moment with the resources and political will needed to end COVID-19 for everyone, everywhere. Because none of us are safe until all of us are safe."
Celebrities who signed the letter were: Malin Ackerman, Debbie Allen, Dorothy Amuah, Morena Baccarin, Adriana Barraza, Troian Bellisario, Bobby Berk, Jordana Brewster, Connie Britton, Karamo Brown, Gloria Calderón Kellett, Ciara, Tena Clark, Kim Coates, Madison Cowan, Alexandra Daddario, Peter Dinklage, Melinda Doolittle, Tan France, Richard Gere, Duff Goldman, Tony Goldwyn, Fiona Gubelmann, Anne Hathaway, Ingrid Hoffmann, Anders Holm, Dolores Huerta, Osas Ighodaro, Joel McHale, Iman, Edward James Olmos, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Ellie Krieger, Iskra Lawrene, Annie Lennox, Lola Lennox, Esther Lewis, Laura Linney, Kimberly Locke, Eva Longoria, Anja Manuel,Julianna Margulies, Catherine McCord, Joel McHale, Spike Mendelsohn, Idina Menzel, Debra Messing, Alyssa Milano, Sepideh Moafi, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Yvette Nicole Brown, Christina Ochoa, Ana Ortiz, Helen Pankhurst, Jessica Pimentel, Julie Plec, Adina Porter, Zac Posen, Leven Rambin, April Reign, Holland Roden, Sheila Shah, Adam Shankman, Omar Sharif Jr., Michael Sheen, Adam Shulman, Sarah Silverman, Hannah Skvarla, Todd Snyder, Kimberly Steward, Curtis Stone, Christy Turlington Burns, Laura Vandervoort, Gabby Williams, Michelle Williams, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Russell Wilson, Scott Wolf, Kelley Wolf, Bellamy Young, and Rachel Zoe.
CARE is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakeable commitment to the dignity of people. "We put women and girls in the center because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities."
CARE has worked in the Philippines since 1949, providing emergency relief and assistance when disaster strikes, helping communities prepare for disasters and implementing sustainable livelihood projects.
CARE’s past responses in the Philippines include typhoon Pablo (Bopha) in 2012, Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, Ruby (Hagupit) in 2014, Lawin (Haima), Nina (Nock-ten) in 2016, the Marawi Siege in 2017, Ompong (Mangkhut) in 2018, Mindanao Earthquake in 2019, Taal Volcano Eruption in 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.