Rep. Pocan introduces bill to bolster efforts to vaccinate 30 percent of the world’s poorest populations

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced legislation Wednesday that seeks to divert a small percentage of military spending towards global vaccination efforts, vaccinating potentially an additional 30 percent of the world’s low-income population within a year.

The COVID Defense Act would transfer 1.3 percent of U.S. military spending – about $9.6 billion, to procuring 1.8 billion COVID vaccine doses for lower-income countries in 2021 and 2022.

“We can’t bomb our way out of a global pandemic,” Congressman Pocan said. “Right now, COVID is the greatest risk to our national security as well as the world’s security. Shifting funds from weaponry and military contractors to producing COVID vaccines will save hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of lives around the world. At a time when America spends more on its military than the next 11 closest nations combined, we should be able to sacrifice a little over 1% of that to save lives, build global goodwill, and actually make the world a safer, healthier place.”

The expenditure could potentially protect 60 percent of the population in those countries as part of the COVX Advance Market Commitment program. The legislation would more than double the amount of funds available for vaccine production, procurement, and distribution internationally which would curtail the ongoing spread of COVID-19 variants.

“I can think of no effort that would do more to positively position the United States around the world as a caring nation, while directly showing our global position, than distributing vaccines. The United States is the greatest democracy in the world, and we best show that by sharing our wealth and knowledge,” said Pocan.