The U.S. has donated more than 110 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccines to 65 countries, President Biden said Tuesday as he plots new ways to get more Americans immunized at home.
Mr. Biden said the United Nations credited America with giving away more doses than all other donor countries combined, including Russia and China.
“We’ve contributed more than any other nation to COVAX, the collective global effort delivering vaccines across the world,” Mr. Biden said from the White House East Room. “We’re always going to have enough doses for every American who wants one.”
Mr. Biden earlier this year pledged 80 million doses of U.S.-approved vaccines to other nations.
He upped the ante by promising to buy and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to poorer countries by the first half of 2022. The move raised pressure on western allies to help the rest of the world.
Scientists say the COVID-19 pandemic will remain a problem until a sufficient share of the globe is protected by the shots.
Mr. Biden says the donations will help people at home, thwarting potentially dangerous variants from abroad that could boomerang back on the U.S.
“The delta variant came from abroad,” Mr. Biden said. “Potentially more dangerous variants could arrive at our shores again.”
Only about half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated as the delta variant rips through parts of the country and fills hospitals.
“We still have a lot of work to do. If you are unvaccinated, please please, please get the shot,” Mr. Biden said. “The virus doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican. This is about life and death.”
The crisis is forcing Mr. Biden to scramble one month after he celebrated the nation’s recovery with a July 4 cookout at the White House. He’s also reaching for good news to share.
Mr. Biden characterized the massive number of vaccine donations as an example of U.S. leadership on the global stage.
Canada received 2.5 million doses and Mexico got over 4 million, but most of the shots went to South America, Africa and Asia.
Indonesia is the biggest beneficiary on the list, receiving 8 million doses, while Colombia and the Philippines both received at least 6 million.
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam each received at least 5 million doses, while Guatemala has received 4.5 million.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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