UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to donate 100 million surplus coronavirus vaccine doses to the world within the next year.
The 100 million figure has been calculated based on the total needed to vaccinate the UK population, factoring in the possibility of future vaccine-resistant strains being detected and potential disruptions to the country’s domestic supply of vaccines. (ANI)
This comes ahead of the G7 Summit, which begins in Cornwall today. Last week the Prime Minister asked fellow G7 leaders to help vaccinate the entire world by the end of next year.
In an official announcement, Johnson’s office said, “As a result of the success of the UK’s vaccine program we are now in a position to share some of our surplus doses with those who need them.” This came hours after The United States President Joe Biden promised half a billion doses of Pfizer vaccines to 92 low and middle-income countries and the African Union.
PM Johnson has also committed to donating a further 95 million doses within the next year, including 25 million more by the end of 2021 and 80 percent of the 100 million doses will go to COVAX and the remainder will be shared bilaterally with countries in need.
The statement from Johnson’s office followed an announcement made just hours earlier by US President Joe Biden, who is in the UK to participate in the G-7 summit, that the United States will purchase 500 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to donate to 92 low and middle-income countries, as well as the African Union.
At the Summit, world leaders are expected to announce they will provide at least 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses to the world through dose sharing and financing and set out a plan to expand vaccine manufacturing in order to achieve that goal.
