Speeches Shim
COVID-19 is one of the greatest health challenges our world has ever faced. To beat the virus in the United States, we must also fight it abroad. USAID’s work to end the pandemic is keeping Americans safe, saving lives around the world, and rebuilding the U.S. and global economies.
We need to attack this virus globally, not just at home, because it’s in America’s self-interest to do so. The virus knows no boundaries. —President Joe Biden
USAID’s Global Response
COVID-19 knows no borders and no one is safe until everyone is safe. USAID is working around the clock to help save lives and end the pandemic for all. Since the beginning of the pandemic, USAID has supported more than 120 countries to contain and combat the virus. To date, USAID has provided more than $9 billion to intensify the fight against COVID-19 around the world, pave the way to global recovery, and strengthen global health security.
Only through collaboration can we collectively overcome COVID-19. —Administrator Samantha Power
USAID’s Programs
USAID is building on decades of global health leadership combating infectious diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria to now fight COVID-19. USAID programs are helping deliver vaccines and get shots in arms, expand access to COVID-19 testing and treatment, protect and train health workers, deliver life-saving health commodities and equipment, share reliable public health information, and safeguard global health security. Yet USAID is not just fighting the disease—USAID is fighting to secure decades of development progress that the pandemic is unwinding. USAID programs are keeping kids in school, providing emergency food and hygiene assistance, helping people find work, preventing democratic backsliding, addressing gender-based violence, and tackling other devastating impacts of the pandemic.
USAID is committed to building back a better world, one that is better prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to future biological threats, and where all people can live safe, prosperous, and healthy lives. — USAID COVID-19 Task Force Director Jeremy Konyndyk
Resources
- Private Sector Engagement
- USAID COVID-19 fact sheets
- USAID COVID-19 guidance for implementing partners
- American Rescue Plan
- U.S. Global Response and Recovery Framework
- COVID-19 Safety Plan & Workplace Guidelines (January, 2022)
- CDC COVID-19 information
- Get involved
The spread of COVID-19 has shown that an infectious disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere. USAID is dedicated to ending this pandemic for everyone, everywhere.
LATEST UPDATES
USAID Operating Status
Last updated: January 25, 2022
On January 22, the United States delivered an additional 149,760 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to the Kyrgyz Republic as part of its continued pandemic assistance. This donation was delivered through COVAX, an initiative to support equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Federal Ministry of Health of Germany (BMG) are continuing to support the Lao PDR’s goal to vaccinate 80 percent of the population by donating IT equipment and a refrigerated truck, valued at LAK3.83 billion ($383,794 USD) to the Ministry of Health (MOH), through the World Health Organization (WHO). This equipment will help the Lao PDR to expand the use of information technology to speed up vaccinations and ensure data accuracy throughout Lao PDR.
On January 11, 2022, Administrator Samantha Power met with Chief Executive Officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Mark Suzman. The two discussed the recently announced whole-of-government effort, the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX), to accelerate vaccine delivery and administration. They also discussed USAID and BMGF’s coordinated work to deliver critical oxygen resources to those in need as well as efforts to encourage donors to support plans to increase oxygen resources.
Today, Lao PDR received a new shipment of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which is a donation by the United States through the COVAX Facility - a partnership co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO), with UNICEF as a key delivery partner. The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine has been reviewed for safety and efficacy by WHO and is the first COVID-19 vaccine recommended by WHO for use in individuals age 12 and above. These vaccines will protect lives in Lao PDR and help prevent dangerous new variants from spreading.
Earlier this week, 3.3 million additional doses of safe and effective Pfizer vaccines donated by the United States arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. On Sunday (12/26), 234,000 doses arrived, followed by 3,086,460 doses which arrived on Tuesday (12/28). With the latest consignment, the United States has donated over 28 million doses of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines, bringing the Government of Indonesia closer to achieving their vaccination goals.
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