Biden administration announces the U.S. has donated 110 MILLION COVID-19 vaccine doses to more than 60 countries
The U.S. has donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 60 countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Zambia, the White House announced Tuesday.
President Joe Biden plans discuss that milestone and more later Tuesday in remarks updating the public on the U.S. strategy to slow the spread of coronavirus abroad.
It comes as Biden also plans to update the country on finally meeting the goal of getting a vaccine shot into 70 per cent of Americans.
It came a month after his original July 4th goal.
President Joe Biden will tout the U.S. shipping more than 100 million vaccines, although the global demand is in the billions
Biden wants the nation to become the 'arsenal of vaccines for the world' – a term that echoes the 'arsenal of democracy' during World War II, but that notably does not contain any ideological component.
'Our goals are to increase global COVID-19 vaccination coverage, prepare for surges and prioritize healthcare workers and other vulnerable populations based on public health data and acknowledged best practice, and help our neighbors and other countries in need,' the White House said in a fact sheet Tuesday.
'Importantly, the United States has not and will not use its vaccines to secure favors from other countries. Our aim is to save lives.' The White House said the donations exceed those of all other countries combined.
Getting the vaccines shipped and then into people's arms has proved a logistical challenge for the international vaccine initiative COVAX, with many shots expiring, STAT News reported. Meanwhile, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated states are sitting on 26 million doses that are set to expire in summer or fall.
The administration's aim is to 'save lives,' not 'secure favors'
The Charge d'affaires of the United States embassy Daniel Fannel; the Minister of Health of Guatemala Amelia Flores; and the manager of American Airlines in Guatemala Juan Guerra, pose next to a shipment of 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States to Guatemala, at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala, 20 July 2021
The announcement comes amid a rise in infections in the U.S., fueled by the highly contagious delta strain of the virus, which led U.S. public health officials last week to recommend that people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 resume wearing face coverings in public indoor settings.
The 110 million doses the U.S. has donated largely through a global vaccine program known as COVAX represent a fraction of what is needed worldwide. The White House called it 'just the beginning' of its efforts, with plans to begin shipping 500,000 Pfizer doses at the end of the month.
The White House said in a statement Tuesday that U.S. at the end of August will begin shipping 500,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine that it has pledged to 100 low-income countries by June 2022.
The 110 million donated doses came from U.S. surplus vaccine stock as the pace of domestic vaccinations slowed amid widespread vaccine hesitancy in the country.
Roughly 90 million eligible Americans aged 12 and over have yet to receive one dose of vaccine.
Biden had pledged to ship more than 80 million doses overseas by the end of June, but had only been able to share a fraction of that due to logistical and regulatory hurdles in recipient countries.
The pace of shipments picked up significantly through July.
Under Biden´s sharing plan, about 75% of U.S. doses are shared through COVAX, which aims to help lower- and middle-income nations, with the balance being sent to U.S. partners and allies.
The White House insists that nothing is being sought in return for the shots, contrasting its approach to Russia and China, which it alleges have used access to their domestically produced vaccines as a tool of geopolitical leverage.