World

US 'to buy 500 million COVID vaccine doses for world'

June 10, 2021 12:30 pm

President Biden with his wife Jill. [Source: BBC]

US President Joe Biden’s administration will provide 500 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to about 100 countries over the next two years, US media report.

About 200 million doses will be distributed this year, with the remainder delivered in 2022.

The US has been under pressure to raise vaccination rates in poor countries.

Article continues after advertisement

The move comes as Mr Biden landed in the UK at the start of his first foreign trip as US president.

The White House is yet to officially comment on the plan to roll out 500 million doses worldwide.

But when asked if the US government had a vaccination strategy for the world, Mr Biden said: “I have one, and I’ll be announcing it,” before boarding Air Force One.