US President Joe Biden plans to buy and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to more than 90 countries while calling on the world's democracies to do their part to help end the deadly pandemic, the White House said.

The announcement of the vaccine donation - the largest ever by a single country - comes ahead of Biden's meeting with leaders of the other Group of Seven advanced economies - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan - in Cornwall, England. 
"The goal of today's donation is to save lives and end the pandemic and will provide the foundation for additional actions to be announced in the coming days," the White House said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-us-to-end-trade-tariffs-call-for-new-study-into-covid-19-origins-says-summit-draft-390485">Also Read|&nbsp;EU, US to end trade tariffs, call for new study into COVID-19 origins, says summit draft</a>

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech confirmed they will provide 200 million doses in 2021 and 300 million doses in the first half of 2022, which the United States will then distribute to 92 lower-income countries and the African Union. 
The shots, which will be produced at Pfizer's U.S. production sites, will be provided at a not-for-profit price.

"Our partnership with the U.S. government will help bring hundreds of millions of doses of our vaccine to the poorest countries around the world as quickly as possible," said Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla.

 
"SUPERCHARGE THE GLOBAL FIGHT" 
The donation, first reported on Wednesday, was negotiated over the past four weeks by White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients and the coronavirus task force team, a source familiar with the matter said.

It is meant to "supercharge the global fight against the pandemic," the White House said. 
The pandemic has killed about 3.9 million people around the world, with the infection reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

The new donations come on top of some 80 million doses Washington has already pledged to donate by the end of June, and $2 billion in funding earmarked for the COVAX program led by the World Health Organization and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the White House said.

They will be part of the total U.S. commitment of $4 billion to COVAX announced earlier this year, a White House official said.&nbsp;Washington is also taking steps to support local production of COVID-19 vaccines in other countries, including through its Quad initiative with Japan, India, and Australia.

"President Biden has been clear that borders cannot keep this pandemic at bay and has vowed that our nation will be the arsenal of vaccines," the White House said.

Pfizer plans to produce the half a billion doses at its facilities in Kalamazoo, Michigan; McPherson, Kansas; Chesterfield, Missouri; and Andover, Massachusetts, the White House said.

CNBC reported on Wednesday that the United States is also talking with Moderna Inc about buying some of its shots to donate to other countries.

A Moderna spokesperson said the company is interested in providing the U.S. government with COVID-19 shots for low- and middle-income countries but declined to comment on any talks.

Biden's announcement comes amid mounting pressure for the United States, which has now given at least one shot to around 64% of its adult population, to boost donations of COVID-19 shots to other countries that are desperately seeking doses.

US President Joe Biden plans to buy and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to more than 90 countries while calling on the world's democracies to do their part to help end the deadly pandemic, the White House said.

US President Joe Biden plans to buy and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to more than 90 countries while calling on the world's democracies to do their part to help end the deadly pandemic, the White House said. The announcement of the vaccine donation - the largest ever by a single country - comes ahead of Biden's meeting with leaders of the other Group of Seven advanced economies - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan - in Cornwall, England. "The goal of today's donation is to save lives and end the pandemic and will provide the foundation for additional actions to be announced in the coming days," the White House said. Also Read| EU, US to end trade tariffs, call for new study into COVID-19 origins, says summit draft U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech confirmed they will provide 200 million doses in 2021 and 300 million doses in the first half of 2022, which the United States will then distribute to 92 lower-income countries and the African Union. The shots, which will be produced at Pfizer's U.S. production sites, will be provided at a not-for-profit price. "Our partnership with the U.S. government will help bring hundreds of millions of doses of our vaccine to the poorest countries around the world as quickly as possible," said Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla. "SUPERCHARGE THE GLOBAL FIGHT" The donation, first reported on Wednesday, was negotiated over the past four weeks by White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients and the coronavirus task force team, a source familiar with the matter said. It is meant to "supercharge the global fight against the pandemic," the White House said. The pandemic has killed about 3.9 million people around the world, with the infection reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019. The new donations come on top of some 80 million doses Washington has already pledged to donate by the end of June, and $2 billion in funding earmarked for the COVAX program led by the World Health Organization and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the White House said. They will be part of the total U.S. commitment of $4 billion to COVAX announced earlier this year, a White House official said. Washington is also taking steps to support local production of COVID-19 vaccines in other countries, including through its Quad initiative with Japan, India, and Australia. "President Biden has been clear that borders cannot keep this pandemic at bay and has vowed that our nation will be the arsenal of vaccines," the White House said. Pfizer plans to produce the half a billion doses at its facilities in Kalamazoo, Michigan; McPherson, Kansas; Chesterfield, Missouri; and Andover, Massachusetts, the White House said. CNBC reported on Wednesday that the United States is also talking with Moderna Inc about buying some of its shots to donate to other countries. A Moderna spokesperson said the company is interested in providing the U.S. government with COVID-19 shots for low- and middle-income countries but declined to comment on any talks. Biden's announcement comes amid mounting pressure for the United States, which has now given at least one shot to around 64% of its adult population, to boost donations of COVID-19 shots to other countries that are desperately seeking doses.

COVID-19: US to donate 500 million Pfizer doses, urge others to join in

A joint survey carried out by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and Kantar IMRB estimates the total number of internet users in India to reach 500 million by June 2018.&nbsp;

The country reported 481 million internet users in December 2017 -- a jump of 11.34 per cent as compared to December 2016.

&quot;The number of internet users is expected to reach 500 million by June 2018,&quot; the report &#39;Internet in India 2017&#39; stated.

As per the official data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the country had close to 362.87 million broadband subscribers by the end of December 2017.&nbsp;

The survey, which was conducted between June to August 2017, covered 60,000 individuals from urban India across 170 cities and 15,000 individuals across 750 villages in the rural area.&nbsp;

Some of the key highlights from the report are stated below:

1. Urban India witnessed a growth of 9.66 per cent from December 2016.

2. Urban India had around 295 million internet users as on December 2017.

3. Rural India witnessed a growth of 14.11 per cent from December 2016.

4. Around 186 million internet users were reported in rural India as on December 2017.

5. 86 per cent internet users in urban India access it for online communication, 85 per cent for entertainment, 70 per cent for social networking, 44 per cent online finance and transactions and 35 per cent for online services.

6. For rural India, entertainment is top content for 58 per cent internet users followed by online communication for 56 per cent, social networking 49 per cent, online services 35 per cent and online finance and transaction 16 per cent.

7. Students and youngsters account for around 60 per cent of the total internet use in India.

8. An estimated 182.9 million or 62 per cent access internet daily in urban India.

9. 98 million users, 53 per cent, in rural India access internet daily.&nbsp;

10.&nbsp;The overall internet penetration, as of December 2017, was recorded at 35 per cent of total population.

&quot;Among the Rural Internet users, the ratio between male to female Internet users is 64:36. The proportion of Internet users by gender in Rural India has seen much change over last year with Internet users among rural females growing steadily. The increasing gender parity in Internet usage is a welcome development,&quot; the report said.

The survey was conducted in 170 cities and 750 villages by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and Kantar IMRB

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

The country reported 481 million internet users in December 2017

A joint survey carried out by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and Kantar IMRB estimates the total number of internet users in India to reach 500 million by June 2018. The country reported 481 million internet users in December 2017 -- a jump of 11.34 per cent as compared to December 2016. "The number of internet users is expected to reach 500 million by June 2018," the report 'Internet in India 2017' stated. As per the official data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the country had close to 362.87 million broadband subscribers by the end of December 2017. The survey, which was conducted between June to August 2017, covered 60,000 individuals from urban India across 170 cities and 15,000 individuals across 750 villages in the rural area. Some of the key highlights from the report are stated below: 1. Urban India witnessed a growth of 9.66 per cent from December 2016. 2. Urban India had around 295 million internet users as on December 2017. 3. Rural India witnessed a growth of 14.11 per cent from December 2016. 4. Around 186 million internet users were reported in rural India as on December 2017. 5. 86 per cent internet users in urban India access it for online communication, 85 per cent for entertainment, 70 per cent for social networking, 44 per cent online finance and transactions and 35 per cent for online services. 6. For rural India, entertainment is top content for 58 per cent internet users followed by online communication for 56 per cent, social networking 49 per cent, online services 35 per cent and online finance and transaction 16 per cent. 7. Students and youngsters account for around 60 per cent of the total internet use in India. 8. An estimated 182.9 million or 62 per cent access internet daily in urban India. 9. 98 million users, 53 per cent, in rural India access internet daily. 10. The overall internet penetration, as of December 2017, was recorded at 35 per cent of total population. "Among the Rural Internet users, the ratio between male to female Internet users is 64:36. The proportion of Internet users by gender in Rural India has seen much change over last year with Internet users among rural females growing steadily. The increasing gender parity in Internet usage is a welcome development," the report said. The survey was conducted in 170 cities and 750 villages by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and Kantar IMRB (With inputs from PTI)

Internet users in India likely to cross 500 million by June 2018: Study

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