US Vaccine Diplomacy Chief "Donating COVID-19 Vaccines Through COVAX"

COVAX Funding Also Expected to Increase from Existing $2 Billion

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The Joe Biden administration in the United States has expressed its intention to donate vaccines through COVAX, the international joint procurement project for COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines provided by COVAX are being unloaded in Ethiopia.
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Gail Smith, the U.S. State Department's Global COVID-19 Response and Health Security Coordinator and the person responsible for U.S. vaccine diplomacy, stated in a press briefing on the 19th (local time), "A significant portion of the vaccine allocation will definitely include doses through COVAX," but added, "However, no final decision has been made yet."

Coordinator Smith also added that the U.S. plans to expand its financial support for COVAX beyond the existing $2 billion.

Smith's press briefing came after President Joe Biden announced on the 17th that the U.S. would provide a total of 80 million doses overseas by June, including 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in the U.S. by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

President Biden introduced Coordinator Smith as leading vaccine diplomacy and stated, "We will work with COVAX and other partners to ensure vaccines are distributed equitably and scientifically."

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