US will have 300mn extra Covid jabs in July: Research

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<strong>The US is expected to have 300 million or more coronavirus vaccine excess doses by the end of July, raising concerns on uneven global distribution of Covid vaccines, according to a new research.<br />
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The research from the Duke Global Health Innovation Centre showed that the US government has entered into advance purchase agreements and provided financial support and/or assistance to rapidly scale the vaccine manufacturing capacity for vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson&Johnson, AstraZeneca, and NovaVax.<br />
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Moreover, a small number of high- and middle-income nations and regions including the US, UK, European Union (EU), China, and India account for the majority of Covid vaccines administered thus far.<br />
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"While confirmed purchases of vaccines globally cover 8.6 billion doses, four of the world's high-income countries, with a population of 1.2 billion (16 per cent of global population), account for 4.6 billion doses (53 per cent of all purchased doses)," the researchers said.<br />
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On the other hand, the low-income countries hold just 770 million doses.<br />
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Given the current pace of vaccinations, 92 of the world's poorest countries may not reach even 60 per cent coverage until 2023 or later, the study showed.<br />
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"High-income countries, especially in Europe, are facing demand that exceeds supply for vaccines right now, as well as serious ongoing outbreaks," the US news quoted the researchers as saying.<br />
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"But that will change in the coming weeks to months, as their advance purchase contracts are fulfilled," they added<br />
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The researchers called on the US to make a plan for the surplus doses as soon as possible and help distribute the coronavirus vaccines in an equitable way.<br />
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"The pandemic will not end anywhere until it ends everywhere. It is in the US interest to proactively and urgently address Covid-19 vaccine inequity," the researchers said.<br />
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"Furthermore, vocal US leadership on the global stage is imperative for a more effective and coordinated global response using rigorously monitored and highly effective vaccines, at a time when nations such as China and Russia are attempting to gain influence through vaccine diplomacy," they noted.<br />
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