Biden to send COVID shots to Mexico, Canada in first exports
WASHINGTON (AP) —
The U.S. is planning to send a combined 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico and Canada in its first export of shots.
A White House official confirmed Thursday that the Biden administration is planning to send 2.5 million doses to Mexico and 1.5 million to Canada as a “loan.” The details are still being worked out.
The Astra Zeneca vaccine has not been authorized for use in the U.S. but has been by the World Health Organization. Tens of millions of doses have been stockpiled in the U.S. should it receive emergency use authorization, sparking an international outcry that lifesaving doses could not be used overseas.
The White House has said President Joe Biden’s priority is the vaccination of all Americans, but the official said Biden was authorizing the loan because the “virus knows no borders.”
“The U.S. is planning to send a combined 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico and Canada in its first export of shots.”
Apparently, there are about 30 million doses of of the AZ vaccine just sitting in warehouses in the USA, awaiting authorization, and factories primed to crank out volume. The US Government contracted for 400 million doses - more than any other (they are the lowest cost provider). So we really could spare a few million for the neighbors.
Hunter will probably collect some kickbacks anyway.
When AZ gets authorized, they should make a much bigger initial splash than any of the others. J&J has been quite a slow start.