US to donate 60 million AstraZeneca vaccines to other countries

This move following the Benden administration's action last month to share about 4 million doses of vaccine with Mexico and Canada. AstraZeneca vaccine is widely used worldwide, but it is still not authorised by the American Food and Bars Administration.

This comes as the White House provides more and more for the supply of three vaccines administered in the US, especially after the resumption of the only Johnson & Johnson dose shot over the weekend.

In view of the strong vaccine portfolio that the US already has and which has been authorized by the FDA, and given that the AstraZeneca vaccine is not authorized for use in the US, we do not need to use the AstraZeneca vaccine here”, said White House co-ordinator COVID-19 Jeff Zients. Therefore, the US is looking at options to share AstraZeneca doses with other countries as they become available. ”

More than 3 million people worldwide have died from COVID-19.

About 10 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have been produced but have not yet passed the FDA review of it “fulfils its expectations for the quality of product”, Zients said. This process could be completed in the next few weeks. Another 50 million doses are in various phases of production and may be available for sending in May and June pending FDA registration.

The United States has not yet completed where the doses of AstraZeneca will go, Zients said. Neighbors Mexico and Canada have asked the Biden administration to share more doses, while dozens of other countries are seeking to obtain the vaccine's supplies. The doses will be donated by the US government, which has contracted with the company for a total of 300 million doses, although the company has faced production issues.