US to purchase, donate half a billion Pfizer vaccines to 92 countries

As entire mankind across the globe is suffering due to Covid-19 pandemic, US President Biden announced that America will purchase and donate half a billion Pfizer vaccines to 92-low and lower-middle-income countries and the African Union. He said that a total of 500 million life-saving vaccines to be delivered by June next year.

New Delhi: As the whole world reels under the deadly wave of the pandemic which has brought normal life to a complete standstill, the United States is leaving no stone unturned to reach out to the countries in need and has been revitalising efforts to make a mark in the global vaccine diplomacy space.

On Thursday, US President Biden announced that America will purchase and donate half a billion Pfizer vaccines to 92-low and lower-middle-income countries and the African Union, a historic action that will help supercharge the global fight against the pandemic, according to the White House fact sheet.

He said that a total of 500 million life-saving vaccines will be delivered by June next year, including 200 million by the end of this year.

This is the largest-ever purchase and donation of vaccines by a single country and a commitment by the American people to help protect people around the world from Covid-19.

Calling on the world’s democracies to do their parts in contributing to the global supply of safe and effective vaccines, President Biden said that the goal of today’s donation is to save lives and end the pandemic and will provide the foundation for additional actions to be announced in the coming days.

According to a statement issued by the White House, 64% of adult Americans have received at least one shot of the vaccine in just four and a half months, daily death rates are lower than at any point in the pandemic, and the American economy is rebounding.

Now, the United States is using the power of democracy, the ingenuity of American scientists, and the strength of American manufacturing to beat the pandemic globally by helping to vaccinate the world, Biden said as quoted by the White house.

Meanwhile, President Biden had earlier announced that America will supply at least 80 million vaccines to countries by the end of June. Additionally, the United States has contributed two billion dollars to COVAX, more than any other nation—and is supporting local production capacity abroad for safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines, including through the Quad initiative.

President Biden has been clear that borders cannot keep this pandemic at bay and has vowed that America will be the arsenal of vaccines, the White House added.

Moreover, the US administration led by Biden has been at the global forefront in helping India fight against the deadly wave of the pandemic which has claimed millions of lives so far.

Several lawmakers and governors have been urging the Biden administration to ensure that India receives vaccines and other medical aid as the country healthcare sector saw a major downturn in terms of availability of the vaccine, life-gasping oxygen etc.

On Wednesday, addressing a news conference, US department Spox Ned Price said that India will be in receipt of a share of those 80 million vaccines and through COVAX and that there were some six million vaccines destined for the region.