The US has released the distribution list for 55 million of the 80 million planned doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which will be distributed until the end of June to help in the global pandemic fight.
“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing the distribution list for 55 million of the 80 million doses of America’s own vaccine supply President Biden has pledged to allocate by the end of June in service of ending the pandemic globally,” the White House said in a fact sheet published on Monday.
“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 statement said.
41 million will be shared via COVAX
Of the 55 million doses, 41 million will be shared via COVAX. Of this, approximately 14 million will go to Asian countries, including India, some 10 million for Africa (coordinated by the African Union) and approximately 16 million for Latin American countries.
Another 14 million doses will be shared “with regional priorities and other recipients”, the White House statement said. This includes African, Asian, Eastern European and South American countries as well as three South Asian countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The specific number of vaccines will be determined and shared as the administration works through logistical and regulatory specifics for each region, the White House said.
Earlier this month, the administration announced the plan for the first 25 million doses that the US has already begun shipping.
Committed to work with US manufacturers to produce more vaccine:
The White House said, in addition to sharing doses from its own vaccine supply, the Biden-Harris Administration is also committed to work with US manufacturers to produce more vaccines to share with the world.
To that end, ahead of the G7, Biden announced that the US will purchase half a billion Pfizer doses and donate them to 92 low- and lower middle-income countries and members of the African Union.
In total, the G7+ agreed to provide an additional more than 1 billion doses starting summer 2021, it said.
In addition, the US is committed to expanding local production of vaccines, and through our Quad partnership and the International Development Finance Corporation’s support for vaccine manufacturing, more than 1 billion doses will be produced in Africa and India in 2021 and 2022, the White House said.
