The White House on Monday mentioned it has diverted its pending orders of vaccine filters to India — “one effort among many to help the their COVID-19 response”.
Taking to Twitter, White House COVID-19 Supply Coordinator Tim Manning mentioned, “Now here’s what we did yesterday: we diverted our pending orders of vaccine filters to India’s vaccine manufacturing effort. This will help India make more vaccine. And it’s only one effort among many to help the their COVID19 response (e.g. therapeutics, PPE, and oxygen).”
Clarifying that there is no such thing as a export ban on vaccine uncooked materials, Manning mentioned, “To make vaccine, here in the US we have used the Defense Production Act to ensure we have access to all needed supplies with many US companies.” Manning defined that DPA in these instances simply means US firms should prioritise their authorities contracts forward of different orders and doesn’t imply an export ban.
Hi Twitter, I’m Tim Manning, the White House COVID-19 Supply Coordinator. There’s been a whole lot of confusion round using the Defense Production Act because it pertains to the worldwide provide chain for COVID-19 remedy. Let me try to break this down merely as potential: 1/8
— Tim Manning (@timmy315) April 26, 2021
“DPA doesn’t even mean a “de facto” ban. Companies are in a position to export. In reality, firms that provide our vaccine manufacturing export their product all internationally. We are only one “client” of the uncooked materials firms. It additionally doesn’t create the shortages – there may be simply extra international manufacturing occurring all over the place than the suppliers can assist,” he mentioned.
On Sunday, the White House mentioned the uncooked materials required for manufacturing Covishield will instantly be made obtainable for India in order that it might fast-track its vaccine manufacturing.
Giving out the main points of worldwide vaccine manufacturing, Manning mentioned, “In an average year, the world producers around 4 billion vaccines for things like flu and the measles. This year the world is working to make near 14 billion COVID-19 vaccines in addition to those other 4 billion.”
Calling it an “unprecedented and historic vaccine production effort”, he mentioned, “This is hard work and it’s encouraging to see the progress the world is making.”
