Image Source : ANI United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
Calling for India to play a serious function in international vaccination marketing campaign, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday termed the vaccine manufacturing capability of India because the “best asset” that the world has right now.
Addressing reporters right here, the UN chief stated, “I know that in India there is a very high level of production of Indian developed vaccines. We are in contact with Indian institutions for that. We strongly hope that India will have all the instruments that are necessary to play a major role in making sure that a global vaccination is campaign is made possible.”
“I think that the production capacity of India is the best asset that the world has today. I hope the world understands that it must be fully used,” he added.
On the necessity to democratize entry to medicines, Guterres stated, “I would say a very important element on the democratization of access to medicines all over the world. I appealed once again today for the licenses to be made available in order for companies around the world to be able to produce some of the vaccines that already exist.”
UN chief’s assertion comes as India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to neighbouring international locations.
Addressing a weekly briefing, External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday stated India plans to reward vaccines doses to Oman, CARICOM international locations, Nicaragua, Pacific Island states.
Srivastava stated New Delhi plans to produce 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations well being employees beneath GAVI’s (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) COVAX facility.
“There is interest in many countries to access vaccine from India. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that India sees international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. We have played the role of the first responder in the neighbourhood,” Srivastava stated.
“From 20th January 2021 onward, we have gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines to our neighbouring countries and in the extended neighbourhood–1.5 lakh to Bhutan, 1 lakh to Maldives, Mauritius and Bahrain, 10 lakhs to Nepal, 20 lakhs to Bangladesh, 15 lakhs to Myanmar, 50,000 to Seychelles, 5 lakh to Sri Lanka. In the coming days, We plan to gift further quantity to Oman that is of 1 lakh doses, 5 lakh doses to CARICOM countries. 2 lakh to Nicaragua, 2 lakh doses to the Pacific island state,” he added.
India, Srivastava stated, plans to commercially export coronavirus vaccine to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Mongolia and different international locations.
“On a commercial level, the export has taken place for Brazil Morocco and Bangladesh. Further supplies to countries on commercial bases are likely to take place to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada Mongolia and other countries. We plan to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI,” he stated.
(With ANI inputs)
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