US unveils strategy for global vaccine sharing with Bangladesh, India on list

The US Administration has unveiled its strategy for global vaccine sharing, keeping Bangladesh and India on the list.

The Biden-Harris Administration on Thursday announced an allocation plan for the first 25 million doses to be shared globally.

Approximately 7 million doses will be shared in Asia covering countries and entities, including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, and the Pacific Islands, according to White House.

As they continue to fight the Covid-19 pandemic at home and work to end the pandemic worldwide, US President Joe Biden has promised that the United States will be an arsenal of vaccines for the world.

To do that, the administration will pursue several additional measures beyond their robust funding for COVAX: Donating from the US vaccine supply to the world and encouraging other nations to do the same, working with US manufacturers to increase vaccine production for the rest of the world, and help more countries expand their own capacity to produce vaccines, including through support for global supply chains.

This vaccine strategy is a vital component of our overall global strategy to lead the world in the fight to defeat Covid-19, including emergency public health assistance and aid to stop the spread and building global public health capacity and readiness to beat not just this pandemic, but the next one.

The administration announced its framework for sharing at least 80 million US vaccine doses globally by the end of June and the plan for the first 25 million doses. 

The United States will share vaccines in service of ending the pandemic globally.

The administration announced its framework for sharing these 80 million US vaccine doses worldwide.

The United States will share 75% of these vaccines through COVAX.

The United States will share at least three-quarters of its donated doses through COVAX, supplying US doses to countries in need.

This will maximise the number of vaccines available equitably in the greatest number of countries and for those most at risk within countries. 

For doses shared through COVAX, the United States will prioritise Latin America and the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa in coordination with the African Union.  

Share 25% for immediate needs and to help with surges around the world.

The United States has received requests for vaccines from countries all over the world. 

The US will share up to one-quarter of its donated doses directly with countries in need, those experiencing surges, immediate neighbors, and other countries that have requested immediate US assistance.

The allocation of this first tranche of donated doses reflects the desire of the United States to respond to all regions and lay the ground for increased supply and access throughout the world.

Nearly 19 million will be shared through COVAX, with the following allocations:

Approximately 6 million for South and Central America to the following countries: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Haiti, and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, as well as the Dominican Republic.

Some 5 million for Africa to be shared with countries that will be selected in coordination with the African Union.

Approximately 6 million will be targeted toward regional priorities and partner recipients, including Mexico, Canada, and the Republic of Korea, West Bank and Gaza, Ukraine, Kosovo, Haiti, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, India, Iraq, and Yemen, as well as for United Nations frontline workers.