WASHINGTON – The White House confirmed March 18 that the Biden administration is finalizing plans to give 4 million of the 7 million releasable doses the U.S. currently has in its supply of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine to Mexico and Canada.
According to a release, of these 4 million doses, it has been reported that 2.5 million will be sent to Mexico and 1.5 million will be sent to Canada.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) released the following statement:
“It is absolutely unconscionable that the Biden administration is willing to play games with the lives of Americans by sending doses to Mexico and Canada, while only 16% of adult Americans are vaccinated. These vaccines have been bought and paid for thanks to the American taxpayer; they deserve to receive their vaccines first before doses are shipped to foreign countries. I urge President Biden to reconsider this decision and focus first on immunizing the people within our borders who desperately need the protection these vaccines offer; America needs it.”
Last week, Van Drew led a group of lawmakers in introducing House Resolution 197 that calls on Congress to prioritize the vaccination of Americans from Covid before exporting doses to foreign countries.
Read the release here.
Read the resolution text here.
