US to be ‘leader’ in jab access
THE US will be “the leader” in vaccinating the world against Covid-19 after making rapid progress at home, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on March 29.
“I anticipate that, as we continue to vaccinate the entire American population, that we will be able to do even more around the world,” Blinken told a virtual news conference after talks at the UN.
“In the months ahead and over time, the United States, I’m convinced, will be the leader in advancing access to vaccines around the world,” he said.
The US has already entered an agreement to produce vaccines in India with support from allies Japan and Australia, eyeing innoculation drives in areas of Southeast Asia and the Pacific where China has sought to expand its clout.
President Joe Biden is also sending millions of doses of AstraZeneca – which has not been approved for use in the US – to neighbouring Mexico and Canada and has contributed or committed $4 billion to the UN-backed COVAX programme to vaccinate the developing world.
Biden dramatically ramped up vaccinations across the country after taking office on January 20, with the White House saying on March 29 that 90 per cent of US adults will be eligible for jabs against the devastating disease by April 19.
With the rapid progress, the US could soon face a glut of doses, creating a dilemma on whether or how to donate them.
Blinken was responding to a question on whether the US would supply doses to Brazil where the foreign and defence ministers both resigned on March 29 amid a devastating Covid toll and struggles to obtain vaccines.
Blinken did not answer directly but said the relationship with Brazil is “very, very important” including on fighting climate change, another key priority of Biden.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, one of the staunchest international allies of former US president Donald Trump, has shared unfounded theories on Covid-19 and criticised lockdowns to mitigate the spread.