The U.S. plans to share 55 million vaccine does across the world… How has this plan progressed?
 

First, the plan.

 

President Biden has made a commitment to share 80 million doses with other countries by the end of the month and plans to utilize the COVAX partnership between the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to deliver on his promise. It appears that the commitment to 80 million doses being shared will be delayed, however, the White House shared its most recent fact sheet regarding the allocation of these doses.

 

On Monday, the White House declared its plan to share fifty-five coronavirus vaccine doses to over fifty countries. Biden plans to target Latin American, Asian, and African countries as the virus continues to disproportionately affect low and middle-income nations.

 

Where the doses will be distributed:

• 14 million to Latin America and the Caribbean

• 16 million to Asian countries

• 10 million to Africa

• 14 million among Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, and Ukraine

 

The sharing of the vaccine is much needed-- countries such as Russia and Indonesia surge in deaths, while also South Africa cases rise. Beyond the upward trend in fourteen countries, new and old variants are spreading, specifically the Indian, Brazil, and South African variants. Twenty-nine countries have reported the Alpha variant, first identified in England.

 

Next, the hurdles.

 

Rather than a shortage of doses, Jen Psaki reports that there is a “Herculean logistical challenge” as only ten million doses have been shipped to other countries. Among these ten million include two and a half million doses to Taiwan, and a million each to Mexico, Canada, and South Korea.

 

Beyond the logistical problems, the U.S. plans to provide 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has not been cleared by the FDA while the WHO has approved the vaccine. The company claims that its immunization is 76% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19, yet the FDA seeks larger-scale trials for its approval. 

 

Finally, the results and consequences.

 

Because many poorer countries are fighting against new coronavirus waves, these vaccines are needed as much as ever, where fighting against these waves will help to end the pandemic worldwide. The COVAX partnership and the support of wealthy nations are crucial for the health of all countries, and to prevent the spread and harm of developing variants. 

 

Within the U.S. there are six variants of concern: the B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), B.1.427 (Epsilon), B.1.429 (Epsilon), and B.1.617.2 (Delta), in which these variants have increased transmissibility and more severe disease. These variants are particularly dangerous and need to be addressed as soon as possible due to the reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, and how attempts to control the spread of these variants are more difficult to monitor and contain.

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