As World Grows Desperate, US Sits On Tens Of Millions Of Unused COVID Vaccine [View all]
Source: MSN/ABC News
(1 hr. ago). Despite offers of lottery winnings, amusement park tickets and even cold hard cash, unvaccinated Americans are leaving tens of millions of unused doses for COVID-19 sitting on the shelves. Federal officials told state governors that as of earlier this week up to 53 million doses were still waiting to be ordered by the states – a staggering amount that, depending upon the type of vaccine, would offer protection against the virus to some 25 million people.
MORE: Half of US adults now fully vaccinated against COVID-19: CDC
That federal surplus is in addition to an unknown number of vaccine doses waiting for arms at vaccination sites and pharmacies in states like Wyoming, Idaho, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama that have the lowest vaccination rates.
The potential glut comes as the world’s poorest countries are still waiting on vaccines to protect their health care workers and elderly. Only 0.3% of vaccine supply is going to low-income countries. MORE: Biden to announce US will donate $4 billion for COVID-19 vaccines for poor countries.
“We are right now in possession of a supply that could be shared, that we're worried about expiring,” Arkansas GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson told the White House in phone call on Tuesday with other governors. Audio of the private call was obtained by ABC News. MORE: 'Herd immunity' gives way to 'good enough' as Biden sets new benchmark for vaccines...
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/as-world-grows-desperate-us-sits-on-tens-of-millions-of-unused-covid-vaccine/ar-AAKrQtx
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