The United States will release up to 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a senior official said Monday, following mounting criticism that the Biden administration was hoarding shots while other countries suffered.
"US to release 60 million Astra Zeneca doses to other countries as they become available," tweeted Andy Slavitt, senior advisor to the White House on COVID response.
The United States"is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials and therapeutics," Mr Biden told Modi, according to a statement. To everyone who understandably says:"about time" or"what were they waiting for", at this time there are still very few available. No real time has been lost.President Joe Biden's government has been under pressure to lift restrictions on exporting vaccine and vaccine supplies as countries like India experience massive surges while US supply appears increasingly assured and domestic demand begins to taper off.
Ashish Jha, dean of the school of public health at Brown University, said one of the main hurdles to sending AstraZeneca doses abroad had been the issue of legal liability, since the original contracts were formulated between the company and the United States.
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