President Biden announced Monday that his administration will send at least 20 million doses of U.S.-authorized coronavirus vaccines abroad by the end of June, a decision that followed months of calls for the United States to do more to close the growing vaccine gap.
Why 20 million U.S. doses is good news for vaccine equity, but not nearly enough to close the vaccine gap
The decision to donate a share of the country’s considerable surplus signals the administration’s recognition that inequity in access may prolong the pandemic, as well as Biden’s desire to engage in the type of “vaccine diplomacy” that China and Russia have been touting for months.
But 20 million, or even 80 million, doses represent just a fraction of what experts say is need to end the pandemic.

