U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) recently introduced a legislative amendment in support of sharing excess COVID-19 vaccines with countries in need.
The Endless Frontier Act amendment seeks to spur U.S. Department of State action in conjunction with the coordination Department of Health and Human Services.
“Ending the global pandemic as quickly as possible should be a top priority for the United States,” Moran said. “With millions of excess vaccines still available, it is vital that we save lives by providing the COVID-19 vaccine to countries suffering from this virus. America cannot afford to stand by as the pandemic continues while other countries, like China and Russia, gain influence by sharing their vaccines. Distributing excess vaccines will prevent new strains from forming, save American lives, open up the global economy and enhance America’s international standing.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that 157 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, the country has purchased enough vaccines to vaccinate 750 million people – more than double the population.
“As we focus on getting more and more Americans vaccinated, we must also help other countries tackle this virus by sharing excess COVID-19 vaccines with nations in need,” Kaine said. “Not only is it the right thing to do; it’s also necessary if we want to reduce the spread of COVID-19 worldwide.”