|
 Holding a virtual summit to boost global vaccination rates, Biden
hopes to show he is leading by example with the pledge
https://www.reuters.com/
business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-donate-an-additional-500-mln-covid-19-vaccines-world-2021-09-21,
which will bring U.S. donations to the rest of the world up to more
than 1.1 billion doses.
The vaccines from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE will be made in the
United States and shipped to low and lower middle-income countries
starting in January, a U.S. senior administration official said
ahead of the announcement.
"This is a huge commitment by the U.S. In fact for every one shot we
have administered in this country to date, we are now donating three
shots to other countries," the official told reporters.
A source familiar with the issue said the government would pay some
$7 per dose.
In June, the Biden administration agreed to buy and donate 500
million doses of the vaccine. Under the terms of that contract, the
United States will pay Pfizer and BioNTech around $3.5 billion or $7
a dose for the shots.
The United States has come under criticism for planning booster
shots to fully vaccinated Americans while millions of people around
the world still do not have access to the life-saving vaccines.
[to top of second column] |
 United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reprimanded
world leaders
https://www.reuters.com/business/
healthcare-pharmaceuticals/un-chief-grades-world-vaccine-rollout-f-ethics-2021-09-21
on Tuesday for the inequitable distribution of
COVID-19 vaccines, describing it as an
"obscenity" and giving the globe an "F in
Ethics."
The virtual summit will focus on vaccinating the
world, saving lives by tackling an oxygen
shortage and making medicines more available,
and preparing for another pandemic in the
future, another administration official said.
Targets include getting 70% of countries'
populations vaccinated by this time next year.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Additional reporting
by Michael Erman and Michelle Nichols; Editing
by Karishma Singh)
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