U.S. donates 5 million surplus COVID-19 vaccines to Africa

The United States has donated approximately five million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Africa as part of the Joe Biden administration's efforts to support the global fight against the pandemic.

A June 3 statement released by the White House said the donation will form the first batch of 25 million to be donated out of an 80 million jabs the American government is set to deploy across the world.

Africa's jabs will be sent through the African Union's Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, the statement noted.

"Today, we’re providing more detail on how we will allocate the first 25 million of those (80 million) vaccines to lay the ground for increased global coverage and to address real and potential surges, high burdens of disease, and the needs of the most vulnerable countries.

"At least 75 percent of these doses—nearly 19 million—will be shared through COVAX, including approximately 6 million doses for Latin America and the Caribbean, approximately 7 million for South and Southeast Asia, and approximately 5 million for Africa, working in coordination with the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The remaining doses, just over 6 million, will be shared directly with countries experiencing surges, those in crisis, and other partners and neighbors, including Canada, Mexico, India, and the Republic of Korea," the statement added.

The United States under Biden has taken a more hands-on approach to the global fight against the pandemic, contributing to COVAX - the global equitable vaccine distribution network spearheaded by the WHO, UNICEF and others.

Most African countries that have received jabs have had them under COVAX with a number of them also receiving jabs especially from China, Russia and India in bilateral arrangements and donations.