Biden’s move to share vaccine doses could become a global game changer


data: AffinityChart: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios

The Biden administration has taken the biggest step ever to become a global supplier of coronavirus vaccines. 60 million exports of AstraZeneca Over the next few weeks.

Important reason: President Biden has been under close worldwide scrutiny of his “American First” approach. Alone among the four major producers, the United States has maintained almost all supplies to date.

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  • The greatest symbol of Washington’s “vaccine nationalism” was the stockpile of AstraZeneca vaccine. It does not require approval or approval in the United States, but it is essential for deployment in many countries.

  • Government officials were waiting for reporters to receive just 10 million doses tonight (much less than reported), but by June, another 50 million doses would be ready. Told.

Those doses will be exported FDA safety reviews are pending around the world, but the White House states that no decision has been made as to which country will receive them.

  • According to the White House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not request a dose by phone with Biden today, but given the horrific outbreaks in India, India could be close to the top of the list.

  • Despite bordering one of the world’s largest producers, Mexico has turned to Russia and China in search of vaccines.

Note: This map shows the total number of vaccines given, not the vaccinated person. data: Our world in dataMap: Danielle Alberti / Axios

Disassemble it: Although relatively small compared to the 231 million doses already administered by the United States, 60 million doses will significantly boost the global supply in severe tension.

  • The COVAX initiative, a major source of vaccines for dozens of low-income countries, has so far been distributed in only 45 million doses worldwide.

  • Still, now that Biden has shown that he is ready to export the vaccine to the United States, it’s not With, the next obvious question is when to allow Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson exports.

Notable points: Almost all US adults who want a vaccine Probably had one Within the next few weeks, Axios’ Caitlin Owens will report.

  • And as demand begins to decline, supply should continue to rise. Pfizer, Moderna, J & J, and AstraZeneca still have hundreds of millions of doses in the United States (even more if Biden exercises additional purchasing options).

  • Biden will face international pressure and public health obligations to share these doses with the world. He said he wanted the United States to do so when it went into the “surplus,” but did not explicitly state what would be considered a surplus or where the dose would go.

  • on the one hand: The Biden administration emphasizes the need for attention and flexibility at home, citing potential production disruptions, the need for booster shots, and the potential for vaccination of children.

  • The other: Secretary of State Tony Blinken Said The United States will be “a world leader in helping ensure that the whole world is vaccinated.”

Conclusion: Even if the United States is spending billions of dollars on that goal, Biden is reluctant to take advantage of the weekly doses that flow out of its largest free-use asset in the United States.

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