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Spreading the wealth: US sends more than 110M vaccine doses around the world

Aug 03, 2021

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President Joe Biden announced Tuesday the United States has donated more than 110 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 65 countries around the world. The video above includes clips from President Biden’s announcement.

“According to the United Nations, this is more than the donations of all 24 countries that have donated any vaccine to other countries, including China and Russia, all those nations combined,” Biden said. “These vaccine donations from America are free. We’re not selling them. There are no demands, no conditions, no coercion attached, and there’s no favoritism and no strings attached.”

That last part appears to be in reference to allegations saying China has used access to its domestically produced vaccines as a tool of geopolitical leverage.

The donated doses came from U.S. surplus vaccine stock. That stock has grown due to a slowing of domestic vaccinations, with widespread vaccine hesitancy in the country. Even though more doses are leaving the U.S., Biden said there will still be plenty available for Americans.

“We’re always going to have enough doses for every American who wants one,” Biden said. “Our work in donating vaccines around the world is about America following through on our promises and delivering what we say will deliver.”

While notable, the 110 million doses represent a fraction of what is needed worldwide. Under Biden’s sharing plan, about 75 percent of U.S. doses are shared through COVAX, which sends the doses to lower- and middle-income nations. The rest of the doses are going to U.S. partners and allies.

“Just as the American economy is recovering, it’s in all of our interests to have global the global economy begin to recover as well,” Biden said. “This is about our values. We value inherent dignity of all people, the inherent dignity of everyone. In times of trouble, Americans reach out to offer a helping hand. That’s who we are.”

In a statement, The White House said the U.S. will begin shipping the 500,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine that it has pledged to 100 low-income countries by June 2022 by the end of August.

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Joe Biden, U.S. President: “Just as the American economy is recovering, it’s in all of our interests to have global the global economy begin to recover as well. This is about our values. We value inherent dignity of all people, the inherent dignity of everyone. In times of trouble, Americans reach out to offer a helping hand. That’s who we are. I’ve said before in the fight against COVID-19, the United States is committed to be the arsenal of vaccines, just as we were the arsenal of democracy during World War Two. We’re backing up that commitment. We’ve contributed more than any other nation to COVAX, the collective global effort delivering COVID-19 vaccines across the world.”

“As of today, we have shipped over 110 million doses to 65 nations. According to the United Nations, this is more than the donations of all 24 countries that have donated any vaccine to other countries, including China and Russia, all those nations combined. These vaccine donations from America are free. We’re not selling them. There are no demands, no conditions, no coercion attached, and there’s no favoritism and no strings attached. We’re doing this to save lives and to end this pandemic. That’s it.”

“The democracies of the world are looking to America to lead again in two ways. First, to demonstrate we can control this virus at home, and second, to show we can help address it around the world. Vaccinate America and help vaccinate the world, that’s how we’re about to beat this thing. We’re always going to have enough doses for every American who wants one. Our work in donating vaccines around the world is about America following through on our promises and delivering what we say will deliver.”