Once the FDA approves the Astra-Zeneca vaccine, the U.S. Government will donate 60 million doses worldwide at no cost. We had originally contracted for 300 million doses but with the supply of Moderna, Pfizer and J & J vaccines, the AZ vaccine won't be needed in the US.
There is no word as to where the vaccines will go but Canada and Mexico have requested more be sent to them.
The more people vaccinated the safer it will be to travel.
The USA to the rescue again!
I think there was an approval glitch in the USA. No vaccine should go to waste. Makes sense to help Canada, Mexico, and Central America first. Then, go from there.
Access to vaccine has become quite easy for residents in Florida in the last 2 weeks. I haven’t checked to see if visitors can get it now.
Vanity Fair had an interesting article on the subject of sharing excess US vaccines earlier this month; for some reason it didn't get wide attention. It's worth reading for the details. Basically, it seems that all the US vaccine contracts prohibit use of the vaccines outside the country. The reason seems to be that use in other countries would abrogate the contract clause under which the US assumes all liability in the event there's a problem with a vaccine.
The article indicates that Canada and Mexico had to reach separate agreements with AstraZeneca in order to use the vaccine "loaned" to them earlier. So it's not as simple as just putting the excess doses on a plane and flying them to a place in need.
I'm hoping there is no such limitation on vaccine ingredients (as opposed to completed vaccine) so there will not be a hold-up in getting critical supplies to India.
Your friends to the north appreciate being on speaking terms with your government again. Our supplies of Astra are dwindling because the Government in India is delaying shipments to try and take care of their internal crisis first. Our Moderna shipments are at half (or less) of what has been promised to date because of production delays. Pfizer deliveries are supposed to ramp up soon but we are one of many countries needing more.
Hang-in There Allan.
There’s a Pfizer plant in Michigan. Makes sense to ship some of those doses to Canada. What percentage of Canada is fully vaccinated now?
Mexico needs vaccinations, it’s the most popular foreign destination for Americans and they are our neighbor makes sense to me.
Those of us traveling to EU countries could even bring vials with us. Being liquid, though, they’d have to all fit in a quart Ziploc bag, next to other liquids/gels/pastes, so that might be tough, and they could get confiscated at Security. Countries would definitely need to supply their own syringes.
Those low-temp freezers (or big cartons of dry ice) would be just a bit heavy, too.
Hang-in There Allan. There’s a Pfizer plant in Michigan. Makes sense
to ship some of those doses to Canada. What percentage of Canada is
fully vaccinated now?
Almost 3% are fully vaccinated and 29% have had 1 jab.
I heard a news report today that Mexico cancelled a large order of Astra Zeneca vaccine, which was to come from India. They reportedly told the Indian government to use those doses to help their own people. I'm sure that AZ vaccines from the U.S. would be a big help for Mexico.
Shipments of AZ vaccine here have been a bit "erratic" lately so any doses we can get will be much appreciated. We're supposed to be receiving over a million doses of Pfizer this week and about half a million of Moderna, but it hasn't been delivered yet.
Here are the latest numbers for vaccinations in Canada - https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/vaccination-coverage/ .
Mexican citizens can always come to the US for their vaccinations. I would rather see the excess go to the worst of the Middle East and Africa.
