The United States will start to share up to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca Plc’s COVID-19 vaccine doses with other countries as they become available, White House senior COVID-19 adviser Andy Slavitt said on Monday.
“U.S. to release 60 million AstraZeneca doses to other countries as they become available,” he wrote on Twitter.
BREAKING: U.S. to release 60 million Astra Zeneca doses to other countries as they become available.
— Andy Slavitt (@aslavitt46) April 26, 2021
The Associated Press earlier on Monday reported the doses would be shared in coming months following a federal safety review.
NEW: U.S. announces plan to share AstraZeneca #COVID19 vaccine doses with the world. 60 million doses to be shared as they become available.
Global pandemics require global cooperation.
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) April 26, 2021
The Biden administration in March said it would send roughly 4 million of the drugmaker’s vaccine to Canada and Mexico and is under growing pressure now to expand sharing of its stockpile with India and other countries.