US gives more than 400 million free vaccine doses to poor countries

The US has shipped greater than 400 million free COVID-19 vaccine doses to 112 needy international locations all over the world, the White Home mentioned Wednesday.

“Right this moment, we'll hit a serious milestone in our international effort: 400 million vaccine doses shipped to 112 international locations … at no cost, no strings hooked up,” White Home COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients mentioned at a press convention.

“Put America’s management into perspective. We have now shipped 4 occasions extra free doses to the world than another nation,” he mentioned.

The donated jabs embrace 42 million doses delivered to Pakistan, 28 million to Bangladesh and 24 million to the Philippines, in accordance with the Kaiser Household Basis, a nonprofit that tracks the US’ vaccine shipments.

The giveaway is a part of President Biden’s plan to ship 1.2 billion doses to low-income international locations together with 30 nations in Africa, 20 in Asia and 25 within the Western Hemisphere to fight vaccine inequity.

Palestinians obtain a cargo of doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine donated by the US, in Salem village, within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, on Aug. 24, 2021.

REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Ethiopian Well being Minister Lia Tadesse and US Ambassador to Ethiopia Geeta Pasi on the offloading of a cargo of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccines on the Bole Worldwide Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 19, 2021.

REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

In current months, well being consultants have mentioned rich international locations such because the US ought to give the life-saving pictures to poor international locations to forestall the virus from mutating into new variants reminiscent of Omicron and Delta, and spreading globally.

Critics have additionally criticized the US’ ethics for pushing booster pictures whereas a lot of the remainder of the world nonetheless hasn’t acquired a primary dose.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a complete of 405,322,310 had been shipped to needy international locations, in accordance with the US Division of State’s web site.

“This illness is aware of no borders and is affecting the whole world, and the U.S. is exhibiting up, main, and serving to to convey an finish to COVID-19,” it declares.