US President Joe Biden has announced that he will purchase an additional 500 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to donate additional COVID-19 vaccines to low-income countries.



President Biden made these remarks while defining the current situation as a "crisis in which everyone must help" at a video vaccine summit under the theme "World Corona 19 Summit, Ending Pandemic and Better Reconstruction" on the 22nd local time. Foreign media such as AFP news reported.



As the United States pledged to donate an additional 500 million doses of vaccine worldwide, the total number of vaccines the United States has pledged to donate so far has reached 1.08 billion doses.



"Biden's promises exceed all other countries' donations combined," AFP said.



President Biden's promise of additional donations during the UN General Assembly is read as a commitment to strengthening vaccine diplomacy.



In the past, the United States has been criticized by the international community for monopolizing vaccines based on the principle of giving priority to its citizens.



In addition, some pointed out that it is lagging behind in vaccine diplomacy compared to China, which has distributed vaccines developed by its own country to low-income countries.



"The United States will be an arsenal of vaccines, just as it was the arsenal of democracy in World War II," President Biden said in announcing his intention to provide additional vaccines to the world.



He also said that the US has already sent 160 million doses of vaccine to 100 countries, and that it will send all pledges of donations by September next year.



Earlier, President Biden promised to donate an additional 500 million doses at the seven major summits held in the UK in June right after he promised to donate 80 million doses to the world.



"For every one shot in the arm of an American, we donate three to the world," the White House said in a statement.



President Biden stressed that these donated vaccines must be donated "without political conditions."



It was interpreted as a remark aimed at China, which is trying to win the favor of low-income countries by donating vaccines.



Meanwhile, President Biden announced the launch of the US-EU Corona Virus Vaccine Partnership for closer cooperation with Europe.



(Photo = Getty Images Korea)