Pfizer Inc. and The Pfizer Foundation today announced the commitment of $40 million in medical and charitable cash grants to help combat the global health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. and around the world. The donation addresses the urgent needs of partners who are working to slow the spread of the virus within communities and strengthen vulnerable healthcare systems against future public health threats. Pfizer is also responding to patient and healthcare provider needs during this unprecedented time by evolving its U.S. Patient Assistance Program and donating additional critical medicines and vaccines in the U.S. and around the world.
“We are in the midst of a global health crisis and understand the need for immediate and significant philanthropic and private sector contributions to help sustain local and global partners on the front lines of the pandemic response, with the goal of saving lives,” said Caroline Roan, President, The Pfizer Foundation and Vice President, Global Health & Patient Access, Pfizer Inc. “At Pfizer, we believe it is our responsibility to help protect the most vulnerable from this disease and are putting the full weight of our resources behind our comprehensive COVID-19 response.”
The combined donation includes medical and charitable grants from Pfizer Inc. and The Pfizer Foundation to support both domestic and global responses.
U.S. Grant Response Efforts
In states across the country with high COVID-19 disease burden, emergency relief funds will be provided to government public health organizations to help address local COVID-19 health needs, as well as non-profit community health organizations. Grant funding will also be provided to charitable community health clinics for immediate and longer-term needs of frontline healthcare workers addressing infectious disease priorities and the COVID-19 response.
Global Grant Response Efforts
Outside the U.S., grant funding will be provided to international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and partners that support direct COVID-19 relief and longer-term health systems strengthening. Over the last several weeks, more than $1 million in grant funding has been provided to established partners, including Direct Relief, Project HOPE and International Medical Corps, to support the provision of urgently needed supplies to frontline healthcare workers and to aid in global recovery efforts.
Through its Global Medical Grants program, Pfizer will provide $5 million in funding to support meritorious educational and research proposals that seek to improve the recognition, diagnosis, treatment and overall management of patients with COVID-19. Quality Improvement grant funding will be available for medical centers, hospitals and clinics to improve the management and outcome of patients with COVID-19.
The majority of the donations will be distributed to partners within the next four to six weeks based on a previous evaluation of response priority needs and partner resource capabilities and gaps. Pfizer, The Pfizer Foundation and its partners will monitor and assess the evolving nature of the pandemic and the impact of these grants. These donations build on Pfizer’s longstanding commitments in the U.S. and around the world to fight infectious disease, strengthen healthcare systems and reduce health disparities for patients in need, particularly in underserved communities.
U.S. Patient Assistance and Global Product Donations
To help address the evolving needs of patients and provide uninterrupted access to their medicines, Pfizer has also quickly adapted elements of its U.S. Patient Assistance Program to accommodate the challenges eligible patients are facing by increasing medication supply during the quarantine, upon request, and where possible, accepting telehealth prescriptions, among other efforts. Pfizer has also partnered with governments, INGOs and U.S. non-profit organizations to donate and distribute essential medications and vaccines.
Pfizer Colleague Engagement and Matching Gifts
As previously announced, Pfizer has created a new Global COVID-19 Medical Service Program that empowers medical colleagues to provide diagnostic, treatment and public health support in the battle against COVID-19. Licensed medical professionals who feel duty-bound to provide their services during this crisis will now have a way to engage in the fight. Colleagues will continue to receive their full pay, benefits and be able to return to their position upon completion of service.
In addition, many of Pfizer’s approximately 90,000 colleagues are donating their time and skills through virtual and other safe volunteer activities to help address urgent COVID-19 related health needs at the community level, and The Pfizer Foundation is matching colleague donations to local, national and global charitable organizations.
