The U.S. is expected to provide 500 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses to 100 nations over the next year

The White House has reached an agreement with Pfizer and BioNTech to provide 500 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to about 100 countries over the next year, a pact that President Biden plans to announce as early as Thursday, according to multiple people familiar with the plan.

Under intense pressure to do more to address the global vaccine shortage and the disparities in vaccination between rich and poor nations, the president hinted at the plan Wednesday morning, when he was asked if he had a vaccination strategy for the world.

“I have one, and I’ll be announcing it,” Mr. Biden said, shortly before he boarded Air Force One for his first trip abroad as president. He was headed first to Cornwall, England, to meet with leaders of the Group of 7 nations.

People familiar with the deal said the United States will pay for the doses at a “not-for-profit” price.

The first 200 million doses would be distributed this year, and 300 million would be distributed by the middle of next year, they said.

At: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/09/us/politics/biden-global-vaccine-plan.html

President Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, smile today shortly before the president’s first trip abroad.

Administration sources revealed today that President Biden will announce the purchase of 500 million Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for 100 mostly developing countries over the next year at a “not-for-profit” price.

The decision will make the U.S. a major vaccination player in the underserved developing world, where the pandemic still rages and which has up to now mainly relied on Chinese and Russian-made vaccines.

Excluding the U.S. and China, the world's vaccination rate thus far - 18 per 100 people - is about one fifth the U.S. total of 91 per 100 people.