Smiley Movement logo

Google helps communities disproportionately impacted by Covid-19

Words by Smiley Team

In an effort to help lessen the blow of Covid-19, Google has announced it is providing more than $150 million to tackle inequalities in access to the vaccine, spreading accurate information about how it works. 

Using their incredible online reach, they will ensure as many people as possible can find relevant information, including when and where to get vaccinated. Accelerating the vaccination drive, they’ll also be offering Google buildings to serve as vaccination centres. 

To support initiatives combatting the spread of the virus, Google has announced $100 million in ad grants for the World Health Organization, and nonprofits around the world. They will invest another $50 million in collaboration with public health organisations to uplift underserved communities through a powerful information campaign.

Announcing the initiative, CEO of Google and Alphabet Sundar Pichai said: “While there is much uncertainty still ahead, the development of multiple safe vaccines in such a short time gives us reason for hope. Now the work begins to ensure that everyone can benefit from this triumph of scientific achievement, and quickly. We recognize that getting vaccines to people is a complex problem to solve, and we’re committed to doing our part.”



Healthcare for all

US data shows that poor and vulnerable people, especially Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, as well as rural dwellers, are disproportionately affected by the virus. They lack access to the vaccine compared to other groups and the virus is taking a higher toll on their health and financial situations. 

Focusing heavily on improving this situation, Google’s contributions include $5 million in grants to organisations addressing racial and geographic disparities in access to the vaccine. These include Morehouse School of Medicine’s Satcher Health Leadership Institute and the CDC Foundation, an American nonprofit that tackles diseases across the world.



Opening access to reliable information

To improve the spread of accurate information about the vaccines, the company has also expanded their information panels on Google’s search engine, to cover over 40 countries and dozens of languages, with more to come. 

They will show local information on the search, detailing where people can easily find a vaccination centre and how to work out if they are eligible to be vaccinated, helped by their Get The Facts initiatives that will become available across Google and Youtube.

Pichai explained: “Searches for “vaccines near me” have increased 5x since the beginning of the year and we want to make sure we’re providing locally relevant answers.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Google has assisted over 100 government agencies and international non-governmental organisations broadcast health announcements via their Ad Grants Crisis Relief program. 

It has helped small businesses weather the financial toll of the lockdowns and partnered with Apple to build exposure notification technology to tackle the virus’s spread. Today, as public health authorities launch their vaccination programmes, they’re showing the corporate world what should be done to support communities as part of their responsibility to the communities they serve. 

If you’re an individual or company hoping to help tackle the spread of Covid-19 you can donate to nonprofits such as the CDC Foundation.

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

You might also like…