The United States finally agreed to supply critical raw material urgently required by India’s Serum Institute of India to produce the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, known as Covishield. This raw material will be made available to India immediately.
India was trying to get these vital components for a while, and there was a massive outrage over America dithering on providing critical supplies to India when the country is facing a crisis, but finally, good sense prevailed in the USA administration.
A statement in this regard was issued by Emily Horne, spokesperson of the US National Security Council (NSC). Horne confirmed the same when asked about a phone call between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his American counterpart, Jake Sullivan.
“To help treat Covid-19 patients and protect front-line health workers in India, the United States has identified supplies of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will immediately be made available for India,” said Emily Horne.
It is said that this decision was made during the phone call between India NSA Ajit Doval and his USA counterpart Jake Sullivan. Sullivan affirmed America’s solidarity with India and recounted the battles the two countries have fought together against smallpox, polio, and HIV.
“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need,” said a statement by the US NSC.
Here it is important to know that on February 5, US President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to increase the country’s supply of materials needed to make vaccines, Covid-19 tests and personal protective equipment. Indian Foreign Ministry raised this issue many times with Biden Administration, since it knew this could hamper imports of critical drugs and supplies to India.
