U.S. Will Send 4 Million AstraZeneca Vaccine Doses to Canada and Mexico

In a marked change in policy, the U.S. will send an estimated 4 million doses of AstraZeneca (AZ)/Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine to Canada and Mexico, according to a White House press briefing yesterday.

The move marks an about-face for the Biden administration, which earlier signaled it would hold off on sharing vaccine doses with other countries to ensure Americans received their shots first.

But Mexico had earlier requested doses and the U.S. government could be attempting to stem charges of vaccine nationalism from global leaders as it looks to reset ties with key allies.

However, the U.S. has not pledged any vaccine doses to the EU, which has been hard hit by a recent surge in cases and a slow vaccine rollout, especially by AZ, which has struggled with repeated production delays (DID, March 16).

By not sending doses to the EU, the White House may be attempting to avoid becoming embroiled in the worsening crisis.

Canada is set to receive 1.5 million AZ/Oxford vaccine doses and Mexico is set to receive 2.5 million doses, both via loan deals. ― Jason Scott