'They Said No' US to Supply Stockpiled AZ Vaccines to Canada and Mexico

Change in Position After Refusal in Phone Call Between US and Mexico Leaders

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United States has finally decided to share COVID-19 vaccines with neighboring countries. This marks a reversal from President Joe Biden's earlier polite refusal of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's vaccine request. The vaccines in question are AstraZeneca doses, which have not yet been authorized for use within the U.S.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced on the 18th (local time) that the Biden administration will provide 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico and 1.5 million doses to Canada, respectively.

Psaki stated that although the plan is not finalized, U.S. authorities are wrapping up preparations to send AstraZeneca vaccines to Mexico and Canada.

She emphasized, "Our first priority is vaccinating Americans, but the reality is that pandemics know no borders," adding, "Ensuring that neighboring countries can contain the virus is a key task in ending the pandemic."

Despite the U.S. government's change in stance, it is expected that the Biden administration's commitment to making vaccines available to all adult Americans by May 1 will remain unaffected.

In the U.S., vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while the AstraZeneca vaccine has not been approved and is currently being stockpiled.

The Biden administration has prioritized vaccinating Americans first while facing pressure from neighboring and developing countries hoping for vaccine donations.

This U.S. vaccine supply move is interpreted as targeting Mexico. Canada has secured vaccines amounting to five times its population. Nevertheless, the U.S. has decided to supply more vaccines to Canada than to Mexico, which is in more urgent need.

Mexico, facing a severe spread of COVID-19 infections and an urgent need to secure vaccines, reached out to the neighboring country, the U.S., which has stockpiled many vaccines.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) reviewed cases of thrombosis following AstraZeneca vaccination and decided to maintain its recommendation for approval, stating it is a "safe and effective vaccine."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.