Facing global criticism for being insensitive towards the vaccination needs of poor countries, the United States President Joe Biden on Friday announced to donate half a billion Covid-19 vaccine doses for lower-income countries ‘with no strings attached.
“We won't be safe from COVID-19 at home until we defeat it in every corner of the globe. That's why we're donating half a billion vaccine doses to countries that need it most,” Biden tweeted.
We won't be safe from COVID-19 at home until we defeat it in every corner of the globe. That's why we're donating half a billion vaccine doses to countries that need it most. pic.twitter.com/7RFze2fDnp
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 10, 2021
According to the US President, it's the ‘right thing to do — and the smart thing to do'. These vaccines will save millions of lives, he said. As per the announcement, the US government will purchase these half a billion Covid-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer for poor nations across the globe.
“Half a billion vaccines will start to be shipped in August, as quickly as they roll off the manufacturing line,” Biden said at a news conference before the G7 summit in Britain.
While vowing that America would be the arsenal of vaccines in the fight against global Covid-19, “Just as America was the arsenal of democracy during World War Two,” President Biden said “Our vaccine donations don't include pressure for favors, or potential concessions. We're doing this to save lives.”
