• Seven million doses have been allocated for Asia

By Kelum Bandara   

The United States has included Sri Lanka to get a share of its allocation of seven million Covid-19 vaccine doses to be distributed among the countries and entities in Asia.   

The White House announced the distribution of vaccine doses among the countries through WHO’s COVAX which provides vaccines to the countries in need.   

According to the announcement, approximately seven million doses have been allocated for Asia to be distributed among India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, and the Pacific Islands.   

Around five million for Africa to be shared with countries that will be selected in coordination with the African Union.   

Approximately six million will be targeted toward regional priorities and partner recipients, including Mexico, Canada, and the Republic of Korea, West Bank and Gaza, Ukraine, Kosovo, Haiti, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Yemen, as well as for United Nations frontline workers.   

“The sharing of millions of U.S. vaccines with other countries signals a major commitment by the U.S. government. Just like in the United States, we will move as expeditiously as possible, while abiding by U.S. and host country regulatory and legal requirements, to facilitate the safe and secure transport of vaccines across international borders. This will take time, but the President has directed the Administration to use all the levers of the U.S. government to protect individuals from this virus as quickly as possible. The specific vaccines and amounts will be determined and shared as the Administration works through the logistical, regulatory and other parameters particular to each region and country,” the White House said. 

• The specific vaccines and amounts will be determined and shared as the  Administration works through the logistical, regulatory and other  parameters particular to each region and country