Share Manila: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the governments of Tonga and Tuvalu have signed separate grant agreements to support the rollout of safe and effective vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A $5.5 million grant agreement with Tonga was signed by Minister of Finance and ADB Governor Tevita Lavemaau and ADB Director General for the Pacific Leah Gutierrez. A $1.5 million grant agreement with Tuvalu was signed by ADB Executive Director Tony McDonald on behalf of the Government of Tuvalu and Ms. Gutierrez. “These grants will help fund implementation of the national COVID-19 vaccine deployment plans in Tonga and Tuvalu. Effective implementation of these plans will be critical to enabling the gradual reopening of borders and the revival of these economies,” Ms. Gutierrez said.