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COVID-19: White House confirms Canada asked for vaccine help, won't say if U.S. has agreed

Press secretary Jen Psaki would only say they are considering the request, not whether the Biden administration has agreed to it
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WASHINGTON — The White House is confirming that Canada has indeed asked the United States for help in procuring COVID-19 vaccine doses. 

But press secretary Jen Psaki would only say they are considering the request, not whether the Biden administration has agreed to it.

Psaki is repeating what she's been saying for weeks: that President Joe Biden's priority is to ensure every American is vaccinated first. 

She says the U.S. is still fighting a "war" against COVID-19 and that dealing with the crisis on the home front is still job 1. 

Psaki also says the White House understands the importance of making sure as many people around the world can get vaccinated in order to bring the pandemic under control. 

A Bloomberg News report suggests Canada and Mexico will be at the top of the U.S. list when the time comes to begin sharing vaccine doses. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2021. 

The Canadian Press