New Delhi (NVI): With the massive Covid vaccination drive in India underway, which is also the world’s largest immunisation programme in the current pandemic, Philippines has expressed willingness to learn the Indian vaccination model.
This comes even as India’s Bharat Biotech has applied for “Emergency Use Authorization” (EUA) for its COVAXIN in the Philippines.
Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teddy Locsin Jr, while sharing a news story on India’s Covid vaccination drive, tweeted: “We’re looking to India to teach us. We’re certainly not looking to the West. But we need to look elsewhere to teach us how to get it done.”
“It was our threat to turn to India, those of us who fought in Congress against Big Pharma for The Cheaper Medicine Act, that turned the tide. I invoked Indian Pharma power for the poor and Big Pharma backed off. Thank you,” Teddy Locsin said in another tweet.
It was our threat to turn to India, those of us who fought in Congress against Big Pharma for The Cheaper Medicine Act, that turned the tide. I invoked Indian Pharma power for the poor and Big Pharma backed off. Thank you. https://t.co/Gct1i0IlWX
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) January 31, 2021
Indian envoy to Philippines, Shambhu Kumaran replied shared the Secretary’s tweet and said that the country’s keen interest in learning from India’s vaccination drive is a “bold new pathway” for the ties between the two countries. The Indian ambassador also shared a frontpage local newspaper story on the Philippines eyeing India vaccination model.
“#Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs affirms country is watching with admiration #India’s #LargestVaccinationDrive and is keen to learn from it. Widely covered by local media too, see front page of @manilabulletin today. A bold new pathway for Flag of India Flag of Philippines ties!” he tweeted.
-ARK
