The initial vaccines secured through these funds will protect the most at risk across Africa, including frontline health care workers and teachers, so they can continue to provide services and care for their community, says the brand.

"This pandemic has impacted everyone and vaccines need to be accessible to each and every person to help bring it to an end," says South African actress and Cotton On foundation ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha.

"It is particularly heartbreaking to see how communities across Africa are being left behind in the vaccine race and it's imperative that we protect those most in need so that children can continue schooling and community life can continue," adds Mbatha.

"As a longstanding friend of the Cotton On Foundation, I am proud to support them in their partnership with UNICEF to help deliver one million vaccines to the world's most vulnerable people," she says.

The COVAX Facility, which is supported by UNICEF, WHO and GAVI, is the global Covid vaccine equity scheme and works to bridge the gaps to vaccine inequities by guaranteeing fair and equitable access for every country in the world.

UNICEF South Africa is supporting the Department of Health-led Covid-19 vaccination roll out in-country through health worker training, cold chain management and data analysis, as well as promoting the importance of ongoing non-pharmaceutical prevention measures.

"Children across South Africa have suffered greatly as Covid-19 has impacted every step of their childhood, from disrupting education to child health services and exposure to violence and mental health issues, often behind closed doors," says Christine Muhigana, a UNICEF South Africa representative.

"Vaccines provide the hope that children, young people and all of us need to reimagine a safer, fairer and better future for every child," says Muhigana.

In addition to helping deliver one million Covid-19 vaccines, Cotton On is continuing its own efforts to provide essential health services in Africa and South East Asia, communities where the Cotton On Foundation has an extensive history.

Since 2007, in partnership with its team members and customers, the Cotton On Group has raised over ZAR 1.3 billion through the Cotton On Foundation, to deliver quality education around the globe.

"There has never been a more important time to rally together to help respond to the biggest crisis the world is facing right now because Covid-19 isn't over for anyone until it's over for everyone," concludes Tony Stuart, chief executive officer of UNICEF Australia.

For more information, visit www.cottonon.com.