Thursday, June 10, 2021
The Arsenal of Vaccines: U.S. to Donate Half a Billion Pfizer Vaccines to the World’s Lowest Income Nations
“The United States is providing these half billion doses with no strings attached.”
President Joe Biden
Today, President Joe Biden announced the United States will purchase and donate half a billion Pfizer vaccines to 92 low- and lower middle-income countries and the African Union, an historic action that will help supercharge the global fight against the pandemic.
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. The donation will serve as the basis for a coordinated effort by democratic countries to vaccinate people around the world. President Biden will also call on the world’s democracies to do their parts in contributing to the global supply of safe and effective vaccines.
“This is a monumental commitment by the American people. As I said, we’re a nation full of people who step up at times of need to help our fellow human beings, both at home and abroad. We’re not perfect, but we step up.”
President Joe Biden
Today’s historic announcement comes on the heels of President Biden’s donation of at least 80 million vaccines from the United States’ supply by the end of June. This represents 13% of all vaccines manufactured in the United States. 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.
The vaccines will start shipping in August 2021. 200 million doses will be delivered by the end of this year and the remaining 300 million will be delivered in the first half of 2022.
The U.S. will allocate these doses to low and lower-middle income nations around the world, working through COVAX to deliver them.