Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo applauded Pfizer for its pledge to increase access to its medicines and vaccines on a not-for-profit basis to 1.2 billion people living in 45 lower-income countries.
Pfizer launched its Accord For a Healthier World initiative to distribute its products, according to a May 25 State Department news release.
“Among the many global challenges highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's clear that governments alone cannot address all the health challenges we face,” Raimondo said in the release.
Pfizer’s expansion of access to medicines and vaccines to the people of these 45 lower-income countries is an important example of being a responsible corporate citizen, she said, the release reported.
“Expanding global access to high-quality medicines and vaccines will require ongoing efforts from governmental and private sector leaders across the world,” Raimondo said, according to the release.
This work by Pfizer will help create global access to medicines and vaccines as we work to close health outcome gaps, she said in the release. By doing so, progress will move forward on the components that are necessary to address inequalities people face. This will ensure the world comes out of the pandemic even stronger, she said.
