Politico reports the Biden administration may ask Congress for billions in additional funding for global COVID-19 vaccine efforts
AHF supports increase, but reminds the White House that the money will go a lot further if the administration uses its powers and authority to get the drug industry to lower prices and increase vaccine availability overseas
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) welcomed news via Politico today that President Biden may “… ask Congress for billions in additional funding for the administration’s 2022 global COVID-19 response.”
In September, Biden announced a goal to vaccinate 70% of the world by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2022, which opens September 13.
“AHF wholeheartedly supports a significant increase in US funding for the global vaccine response, but must remind President Biden and his team that the billions of dollars requested will go much, much further if the administration uses its powers and authority to get the drug industry to lower prices and increase vaccine availability overseas,” said Tom Myers, Chief of Public Affairs and General Counsel for AHF.
Currently, only about 11% of populations in low-income countries are believed to have received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the New York Times.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.7 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare
Contacts
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF
+1.323.791.5526 [cell] +1.323.308.1833 [work]
gedk@aidshealth.org
John Hassell, National Director of Advocacy, AHF
+1.202.774.4854 [cell]
John.hassell@aidshealth.org