Macron welcomes US vaccine donation promise

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed as "great news" the decision by the United States to donate 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the poorest countries and said Europe should do the same. In a news conference, Macron said the European Union "needs to have at least the same level of ambition as the United States" and be able to make a similar announcement. Macron added that the schedule of deliveries needed to be specified. The U.S. commitment is to buy and donate 500 million Pfizer doses for distribution by mid-2022 through the global COVAX alliance to 92 lower-income countries and the African Union.