Thu 10 June 2021:
The US administration of Joe Biden will purchase 500 million doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine to donate globally, according to a report Wednesday.
Under to the scheme, which Biden is expected to announce in the UK on Thursday, the US would pay for the vaccines at cost price. The first 200m doses would be distributed this year, and the remaining 300m in the first half of next year.
According to reports, the vaccines will be donated through Covax, the global initiative to help developing countries face the pandemic, and would go to 92 lower-income countries and the African Union.
Speaking to reporters before departing for the UK trip, Biden said he would have a vaccine strategy for the world and announce it, without elaborating.
According to an Associated Press report, which cites a person familiar with the matter, 200 million doses would be shared this year.
Last week, Biden said the US would donate 75% of unused COVID-19 vaccines to the UN’s COVAX global vaccine sharing program.
The administration announced its framework for sharing at least 80 million vaccine doses globally by the end of June and the plan for the first 25 million doses, according to White House.
COVAX aims to deliver 2 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021.
Pfizer did not comment on the reports but its CEO, Albert Bourla, is expected to join the president for the announcement in the UK.
Biden arrived in the UK on Wednesday evening and addressed US troops at the RAF Mildenhall airbase where Air Force One landed. He outlined his plans in general but did not give details of his planned vaccine diplomacy.
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