US and Japan Double Vaccine Donations to Low-Income Countries

President Joe Biden announced additional vaccine donations at the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly on the 22nd (local time).
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] U.S. President Joe Biden announced on the 22nd (local time) that he will purchase 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccines to donate to low- and middle-income countries. With this, the United States has pledged a total of 1.1 billion doses in donations so far.

President Biden made this announcement at the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly, stating, "There is nothing more urgent than joining forces to fight COVID-19."

The additional vaccines will be manufactured at production facilities within the United States and shipped starting January next year to 92 low- and middle-income countries and 55 African Union member states. Pfizer stated on the same day that "delivery is expected to be completed by September next year."

In June, the United States also announced it would donate 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccines to COVAX, the vaccine joint procurement and distribution project led by the World Health Organization (WHO). Of that amount, a total of 30 million doses have been sent to 22 countries so far, beginning with Rwanda on the 18th of last month.

The United States, which had publicly prioritized vaccinating its own citizens first, is now actively donating vaccines, a move interpreted as a response to international criticism and a strategic effort to counter China's vaccine diplomacy, which is actively distributing Chinese vaccines worldwide.

Initially, the Biden administration aimed to address vaccine inequity by establishing a joint venture between Pfizer and Moderna. Through this joint venture, vaccine technology licenses would be granted to contractors, who would then supply vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.

However, this plan concluded with the announcement of the additional purchase. The New York Times (NYT) explained, "The government's decision to purchase an additional 500 million doses is the result of negotiations with pharmaceutical companies," adding, "Instead of establishing a joint venture, the vaccines will be purchased at a non-profit price of $7 per dose."

Following the United States, Japan also doubled the amount of vaccines it had previously pledged to donate. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced at the same meeting that "a total of 60 million doses will be donated to developing countries and others."

Japan plans to supply AstraZeneca vaccines free of charge to Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan. Prime Minister Suga's announcement adds 30 million doses to the 30 million doses promised in June.