WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: The Historic U.S. Donation of Half of a Billion Vaccines

On the eve of the G7 in the United Kingdom, President Biden announced that the United States will donate half a billion Pfizer vaccines to 92 low- and lower middle-income countries and the African Union – a historic action that will help supercharge the global fight against the pandemic. The announcement demonstrates how the U.S. is using the power of our democracy, the ingenuity of American scientists, and the strength of American manufacturing to beat the pandemic globally by helping to vaccinate the world. This is the largest-ever purchase and donation of COVID vaccines by a single country and a commitment by the American people to help protect people around the world from COVID-19.

Here is what they are saying:

Media Coverage

Associated Press: Biden to lay out vax donations, urge world leaders to join
"One year ago, the U.S. was the deadliest hotspot of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the cancellation of the G7 summit it was due to host. Now, the U.S. is emerging as a model for how to successfully recover from more than 15 months of global crisis."

Washington Post: Biden administration to buy 500 million Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses to donate to the world
"The Biden administration is buying 500?million doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to donate to the world as the United States dramatically increases its efforts to help vaccinate more of the global population … Many public health experts and advocacy groups cheered the news of the White House's deal with Pfizer, saying U.S. leadership on the issue will be critical to vaccinating the world …"

Wall Street Journal: U.S. to Donate 500 Million Covid-19 Vaccine Doses to Lower-Income Countries
"Global public-health and finance officials warn that without assistance on this scale, developing countries will be left dealing with a prolonged pandemic, with continued loss of livelihoods and lives."

Los Angeles Times: Biden to announce U.S. will donate 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to poor nations
"The United States will buy 500 million doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to donate to impoverished nations, signaling a massive new investment in the worldwide inoculation campaign … The donation represents a cornerstone of the U.S. effort to bring the global pandemic to an end, as well as to counter the influence of authoritarian countries like Russia and China."

Diplomatic Leaders

Hilary Clinton: "This is a great start. When America is at its best, it's a force for good in the world." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Madeleine Albright: ".@POTUS Biden has crushed the virus at home, and the bold vaccine initiative he is announcing today will help the United States defeat it globally. His leadership is proving that America is a force for good and that democracy is a force for progress." [Tweet, 6/10/21]

Reporters & Columnists

Dan Diamond: "Re-upping this @tylerpager @emilyrauhala scoop — a very significant deal. For context, 500 million doses is more than have been administered so far in Africa, South America and the European Union — combined." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Michael Gerson: "A good friend, and no Biden fan, just wrote me, 'It makes me proud to be an American.' I like having that feeling again." [Tweet, 6/10/21]

Nicholas Kristof: "Excellent news: Biden will have the US buy 500 million Pfizer vaccine doses for the rest of the world. This is leadership at the G7: It helps others, helps keep the US safe, and models what other nations should do." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Kasie Hunt: ".@BenSasse praises @POTUS vaccine announcement: "Health diplomacy is a smart investment and buying these vaccines is the right move. America should have an aggressive strategy to vaccinate a billion people around the world this year. Says important for countering CCP." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Advocates

Gavi: "Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, today welcomes the decision by the United States Government to procure 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses on behalf of the COVAX Facility. Under the plan, 200 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be delivered in 2021, starting in August, with a further 300 million shipped in the first half of 2022. The doses will be made available to all 92 economies eligible for donor-funded vaccines via the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), as well as member states of the African Union. The 500 million doses outlined in this plan are separate from an earlier decision by the US Government to share 80 million doses starting in June as part of a broader global vaccine sharing strategy." [Statement, 6/10/21]

Liz Schrayer, President and CEO, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC): "Today's announcement that the U.S. will purchase and donate 500 million Pfizer vaccines to COVAX—enough shots to fully vaccinate 250 million people—is the kind of U.S. global leadership all Americans can be proud of and thankful for. It's an American investment that will not only reverse the trend on global vaccine inequity and save lives around the world but make every American safer as virus variants and surges continue worldwide." [Statement, 6/10/21]

Tom Hart, Acting CEO, The ONE Campaign: "The kind of bold leadership that is needed to end this global pandemic." [Tweet, 6/10/21]

Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH: "So many reasons why this is fantastic
Biden Administration to buy 500M doses of Pfizer vaccines, donate it
If other nations can follow suit, push manufacturing, and commit to sharing those vaccines
We can make real progress in closing the vaccine gap." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Tom Periello: "First, he got America vaccinated. Now, the world! Thank you
@POTUS!" [Tweet, 6/10/21]

Members of Congress

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "Today marks an important step in the fight against the pandemic. With this strong commitment of 500 million vaccine doses, on top of the 80 million doses already committed from the American stockpile, President Biden and Vice President Harris are taking decisive action to save lives, crush the coronavirus across the world and restore American leadership in the global arena. The House applauds this bold action, which was made possible with the $4 billion Democrats secured in the December coronavirus relief package and the $1 billion in the American Rescue Plan to help vaccinate the world as quickly as possible. The Democratic Congress looks forward to continuing our partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration to crush the virus at home and abroad and finally end this pandemic. Getting shots in arms around the world is both a moral imperative and an urgent necessity, as we cannot be safe from the virus anywhere until we defeat it everywhere." [Statement, 6/10/21]

Washington Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus: "I applaud President Biden's momentous decision to provide 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to dozens of nations in need — including India, Brazil, and other places where COVID-19 is surging. By doing so, we are not only taking a critical step in unleashing the resources necessary to defeat this deadly virus abroad, but we are protecting people at home while restoring our place as a global leader and international partner. At the heart of today's announcement is a powerful recognition that whether you live in America or around the world, your future is intertwined with mine — that we are all better off when we are all better off..." [Statement, 6/10/21]

New Jersey Congressman Alberto Sires: "@POTUS announced an addition 500 million doses for the global vaccine effort. I am proud of the US for taking a leadership role by donating millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine to our partners around the world and investing in global health security and disease detection." [Tweet, 6/10/21]

Pennsylvania Congresswoman Susan Wild: "I applaud the administration for sending vaccines to countries like India to assist in the global fight against the pandemic. American leadership has the capacity to make a huge difference and I'm glad we're stepping up to the plate." [Tweet, 6/10/21]

California Congresswoman Barbara Lee: "We can't defeat this virus at home unless everyone in the world has access to vaccines. Donating doses to COVAX will save lives and help reopen the global economy. Glad to see @POTUS taking this step." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton: "Thankful for President Biden's commitment to global public health. This crisis won't be over until everyone in the world has access to a vaccine." [Tweet, 6/10/21]

Senators

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin: "Unlike his predecessor, President Biden understands that the only way we're going beat COVID-19 & protect our gains at home is with widespread, global vaccinations. We are going to have to work alongside our allies to help the world overcome this pandemic." [Tweet, 6/10/21]

Utah Senator Mitt Romney: "The Administration's announcement of donating 500 million COVID vaccines to countries in desperate need is exactly the role the U.S. should be playing in this global pandemic. I spoke with @StateDept this morning, and they understand the urgency of the global vaccination effort. [Tweet]

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders: "The U.S. must lead the way in crushing the coronavirus pandemic everywhere, and I'm pleased the Biden Administration has taken strong action to get more people vaccinated around the world. Everyone, rich or poor, deserves the right to get a life-saving Covid-19 vaccine." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar: "500 million vaccine doses donated to the world. This is what global leadership looks like." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy: "America's power is the example you set," a Yemeni activist told me last month.

With this initiative, Biden is recasting the idea - abandoned by Trump - that America can offer the world big solutions to big problems." [Tweet, 6/9/21]

South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham: "I support the effort of the Biden Administration to donate vaccines to at-risk populations throughout the world and hope other countries will follow America's lead. I believe this to be a good investment by the American taxpayer. The roughly $3.5 billion required to purchase and distribute 500 million doses of vaccine will help prevent a reemergence of the COVID-19 virus which makes America and the world safer. Again, I do hope other nations will contribute their fair share. The sooner we have vaccines available to the world, the better." [Press Release, 6/10/21]

Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse: "Health diplomacy is a smart investment and buying these vaccines is the right move." [Media Article, 6/10/21]