EU Has Exported More Than 1 Billion Vaccine Doses

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the bloc has now exported more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the rest of the world, according to the Associated Press.

The big picture: The COVID-19 vaccines have been sent to more than 150 nations, making the EU the biggest exporter of the vaccines in the world. Recipients include Japan, Britain, South Africa and Brazil.

Von der Leyen announced that the EU will also donate at least half a billion doses to middle- and lower-income countries that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.
She added that at least every second dose produced in the EU is exported.

A global push: Von der Leyen urged other nations to follow suit.

“We know that other countries also have to step up,” said Von der Leyen. “That’s the only way to beat the pandemic.”

The goal: According to Von der Leyen, the EU hopes to work with the United States to achieve a global vaccination rate of 70% by next year.