UNICEF discusses financial aid for families with vaccines

In the first council session of Day 1, the delegates started off with the General Speakers List (GSL). Japan then proposed an unmoderated caucus of 10 minutes to discuss how to provide financial aid for families and poorer countries.

Syria kicked off the unmoderated caucus by stating that the council should place priorities on the poor, as well as use taxes to build a proper monetary system. This helps funnel out the money and allocates funds in different areas properly.

Japan then stated that the council should instead help children suffering from the side effects of the vaccines, as treating the side effects of the vaccination is costly. Angola replied saying that financial aid was not necessary. So in an odd turn of events, Japan’s point was then left hanging.

An alternate solution proposed by Bangladesh was that free vaccines could be given to children. However, Japan pointed out that Less Developed Countries(LDCs) would have challenges giving out free vaccines as they do not have the funds to do so. Indonesia then suggested that other countries could donate large sums of money in funds to help support the poorer countries. The council then agreed that free vaccines might be a feasible solution to provide financial aid to poorer families.

Through Japan’s questioning of whether there should be a limit to the cost of the vaccination, Bangladesh pointed out that every country has a unique situation. Syria also added that such a limit would have multiple drawbacks, such as the difficulty of moderating the limit as every country has different inflation rates. However, Japan states that the solution to that drawback is to rely on currency conversion rates and that the limit can be readjusted to cope with each countries’ financial situation.

Japan summarises that different countries can use funds to upgrade their economical situation and that the council’s main focus should be on producing free vaccines in order to provide financial aid to the poor.