The United States has just sent half a billion free Covid-19 vaccines around the world, with more on the way. Over 110 countries in every region of the globe have received American vaccines.
- Jeremy Konyndyk, executive director of the COVID-19 Task Force at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said the U.S. government has allocated about $1.7 billion for vaccine delivery so far and said his agency is hoping Congress passes additional funding to continue with the next phase.
- He said USAID has been supporting other countries since the beginning of the pandemic, a natural expression of its mission of providing assistance to those who need it overseas.
- Konyndyk explained that the vaccine donations benefit taxpayers through reducing the risk of future variants emerging from undervaccinated populations.
- He said existing initiatives, such as malaria programs, have served as an excellent foundation for the international vaccination efforts.
