Biden: US to donate 500 million doses of vaccines to the world

“These half billion vaccines will start being transported in August, once they emerge from production”, Mr. Biden said on Thursday in Cornwall, adding that 200 million doses will be distributed by the end of this year and 300 million in the first half of 2022.

Beden said the donation will not be conditional.

Our source of vaccines does not include pressure for potential favors or concessions. We're doing this to save lives, to end this pandemic,” said Mr. Biden.

Albert Bourla, chief executive of Pfizer, was present when the American leader made the announcement.

“We are testing vaccine responses to new variants”, said Mr. Bourla, stressing that until now the vaccine provides protection for all variants.

The move signals that the United States “is not focused solely on itself”, said Leslie Vinjameni, director of the United States and Latin America programme in Chatham House organisation. This has been a major global concern, said Mrs. Vinjameni, not only during the years of former President Trump, but also during the first months of President Biden's administration when Washington was not distributing doses despite reservations in the supply.

The US president's announcement comes a day before the start of the G-7 meeting, the group of the most advanced democracies in the world in Cornwall.

“Tomorrow, G7 countries will reveal the full range of our commitment,” said Mr. Biden.

US-disposed doses. Through COVAX, the UN vaccine-sharing mechanism, there are only 80 million US promised doses to be delivered at the end of June. Besides, the U.S. He gave $2 billion to COVAX.

The U.S. originally promised an additional $2 billion for COVAX, but now it is changing the course of money to help pay for the 500 million donated doses, which have an estimated cost of $3.5 billion.

The humanitarian organisations welcomed the move. Tom Hart, the acting chief of the ONE campaign, an organisation that works to end poverty and preventable diseases, urged other G-7 countries to do the same.

This action sends a very powerful message about America's commitment to helping the world fight this pandemic and the power of the US global leadership,” said Mr. Hart in a statement.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday also promised <x0 milliona” doses for the poorest in the world.

But it is unclear how many G-7 countries can help. The countries are in different stages of vaccinating their populations. Japan and Canada, which have below 10% vaccine rates, are unable to be so generous.

In addition to granting vaccines, G-7 is also under pressure to give up vaccine licenses. The US is in favour of giving up intellectual property rights on vaccines in the World Trade Organisation. But the European Union is pressing for another proposal: mandatory licensing to increase the production of vaccines.

National Security Council at the White House Jake Sullivan told the Voice of America that different approaches will not be a crash point in G-7.

I predict reaching a common denominator, because we all agree on the idea that we should increase the vaccine supply in some ways,” said Mr Sullivan.

Prior to the announcement of vaccines, Mr. Biden met Thursday with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with whom he had disagreements in the past.

The leaders agreed on a new Atlantic Charter, according to the model of the declaration made by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and American President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 to promote democracy and free trade, which was essential but the establishment of world order after World War II.

The 2021 Atlantic Charter underlines that with similar values and united forces, the two countries will work together to meet the major challenges facing the planet from COVID and climate change in global security.

Mr. Biden, who is of Irish origin, is also concerned that Brex may damage the 1998 Good Promise Agreement, brokered by the United States that brought peace to Northern Ireland, which is part of Great Britain.

Under the Brex agreement, Northern Ireland remains a party to the common EU market, however, it is no longer part of the bloc, which means it must submit to customs. Mr. Biden's administration will make sure that prospects for peace are not jeopardised.

Vice President Biden has clearly expressed confidence in the Good Friday Agreement as the foundation for peaceful co-existence in Northern Ireland”, said Mr Sullivan.

Despite these tensions, Mr. Biden is very committed to having the US-Britain partnership as a pillar for G-7, said Mrs. Vinjamen.

The “is meant to use America's deep and historical relations with Britain to confirm the values of democracy, liberalisation, freedom. ”

Mr Johnson's government has just completed a review of the foreign policy strategy, which includes a reaffirmation of the special relationship between the two allies. / VOA