There Isn’t Much Time Left if the U.S. Wants to Challenge China on Vaccine Distribution

Jeff Zients, the White House's Covid-19 response czar, speaks during a press briefing at the White House where they spoke about a pause in issuing the Johnson & Johnson Janssen Covid-19 vaccine on April 13, 2021, in Washington, DC. Brendan Smialowski / AFP

With U.S. vaccination rates on the rise and predictions that the country will reach herd immunity by mid-summer, confidence in Washington’s pundit and political circles has been steadily rising that the United States will finally be well-positioned to challenge China’s early lead in global vaccine distribution.

U.S. officials have said repeatedly that once every one of their people is vaccinated, the U.S. will turn its attention to shipping jabs overseas, both bilaterally and through the global Covax alliance.

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by Eric Olander

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