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The Taoiseach has been called on to seek additional vaccines from the United States when he speaks to President Joe Biden next week.<\/p>\nThe Taoiseach has been called on to seek additional vaccines from the United States when he speaks to President Joe Biden next week.<\/p>\n
Miche\u00e1l Martin is to hold a virtual meeting with the president next week to mark the annual St Patrick\u2019s Day celebrations.<\/p>\n
It comes as news emerged that the US is sitting on upwards of 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which cannot be used there as they are still awaiting the results of clinical trials.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il MEP Billy Kelleher has written to both the Taoiseach and President Biden urging them to consider the issue.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThese vaccines all have a limited shelf life, and with the FDA having not authorized AstraZeneca\u2019s use in the US, they need to be used somewhere and soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an opportunity that cannot be missed or ignored. It\u2019s too important not to at least try.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Irish Government shouldn\u2019t be shy about asking one of our oldest allies and a US president who is incredibly proud of his Irish heritage that when a decision is made to share them with the world, that Ireland is top of the list.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust one million doses would be transformative for the vaccine program in Ireland, and it needs to be on the agenda next week.\u201d<\/p>\n
The New York Times reported on Friday that 30 million vaccine doses are currently bottled at AstraZeneca\u2019s facility in West Chester, Ohio.<\/p>\n
Tens of millions more are ready to be bottled into vials at a factory in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/p>\n
However, the paper reports that the White House has not yet decided what to do with the doses, with officials split on whether to send them abroad or keep them in the US.<\/p>\n
Writing to President Biden, Mr Kelleher said: \u201cThere is a global need to vaccinate people everywhere as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I respect your right to protect the wellbeing of your citizens above others, I believe the United States, with its massive industrial capacity, can afford to share a proportion of these stockpiled vaccines with other countries such as Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would urge you to consider any request from An Taoiseach, or indeed the European Union, to relax the export bans currently in operation in the United States and allow us to make use of these precious vaccines.\u201d<\/p>\n
Writing to the Taoiseach, Mr Kelleher said there may be \u201cupwards of 50 million doses in refrigeration\u201d throughout the US.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIreland\u2019s special and deep relationship with the United States and President Biden\u2019s love of our country and his own Irish-American heritage lends itself well to a successful agreement being concluded.<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland must use its position as the natural cultural and diplomatic bridge between the United States and the EU for the benefit of all.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaoiseach, I have no doubt that this is already on your agenda, and I know that you and the Government are actively seeking new ways of increasing Ireland\u2019s supply of Covid-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one can or should ever fault Ireland\u2019s Taoiseach from doing whatever he or she can to protect the lives of our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n