In Tanzania, home to 66,744 baptized members of Tanzania Mennonite Church, less than 1% of the population has received vaccination protection against COVID-19.

Mennonite World Conference is ­calling on its members to love their neighbors by donating to UNICEF’s campaign to share coronavirus vaccinations around the world.

While some countries are removing health restrictions, others, like Tanzania, do not have enough supply to vaccinate health-care workers. This leaves the population vulnerable to illness and risks health-care worker shortages. Some data models project it could take until 2024 to vaccinate the world population.

UNICEF aims to distribute 2 billion doses in more than 180 countries before the end of this year. Donations to UNICEF cover costs of purchasing and distributing the vaccines, including transportation, health-worker training and safe disposal of waste.

In Canada, more than 70% of adults have received at least one vaccine dose. Aware of their privilege, leaders at Hagerman Mennonite Church in Markham, Ont., created a vaccination project to help multiply funding for more vaccinations worldwide.

“Our first step is to encourage our congregation to make personal donations,” said Andrew ­Reesor-McDowell, a member at Hagerman. “We felt it was important to contribute where we can to this vaccine gap between Canada and poorer countries.”

Hagerman members’ donations are matched by the congregation and the Canadian government.

Methods to donate are at mwc-cmm.org/stories/love-neighbours-share-vaccines.