Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
US Will Contribute To Global Supply Of AstraZeneca Vaccine
NPR: U.S. Will Share 60 Million Doses Of AstraZeneca Vaccine With Other Countries
The United States will release 60 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from drugmaker AstraZeneca to other countries over the next several months, the White House announced Monday. The vaccine, which has not been authorized for use in the U.S., will be released once it clears safety reviews by the Food and Drug Administration. That could happen in the "coming weeks," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing. The White House did not specify which countries would receive the vaccine, but about 10 million doses are ready to ship once regulatory clearance has been granted, Psaki said. The remaining doses are expected to be distributed throughout May and June. (Sullivan, 4/26)
Reuters: U.S. To Share Up To 60 Mln AstraZeneca Vaccine Doses Globally -White House
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the United States would release the doses to other countries as they become available. She said there could be 10 million doses cleared for export "in coming weeks." About 50 million more doses are currently being produced and could ship in May and June. (Shalal, 4/26)
Axios: Biden's Move To Share Vaccine Doses Could Be A Global Game Changer
While relatively small compared to the 231 million doses the U.S. has already administered, 60 million doses would be a major boost to the severely strained global supply. The COVAX initiative, the primary source of vaccines for dozens of lower-income countries, has thus far only distributed 45 million doses globally. (Lawler, 4/26)
In related news about the AstraZeneca vaccine from Canada and Europe —
Fox News: Canada Says AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines From Troubled Emergent Lab 'Safe'
Canadian health authorities attempted to assuage concerns Sunday about the safety of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from a troubled Emergent BioSolutions facility in Baltimore, Md. The manufacturing facility, known as Bayview, saw 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine go to waste after a dosage mix-up last month. The U.S. FDA recently ran an investigation at the facility, and as a result, "cited a number of observations concerning whether the facility’s processes met our requirements and standard," per a statement issued last week. (Rivas, 4/26)
Axios: European Commission Sues AstraZeneca For Vaccine Shortages
The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against AstraZeneca for providing only a third of the supply of coronavirus vaccines agreed to in its contract, a spokesperson confirmed Monday. It's the latest in a string of controversies related to the European Union's vaccine rollout, which has been plagued by supply shortages, a slow pace of distribution, and concerns about potential rare blood clots linked to AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. (Basu, 4/26)
