New Delhi (NVI): US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan today said that the country has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India.
Sullivan spoke to the NSA Ajit Doval and expressed sympathy for the people of India following the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
“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,” he said.
During the conversation, US NSA said that the United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India.
“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,” he added.
The United States also is pursuing options to provide oxygen generation and related supplies on an urgent basis. The US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is funding a substantial expansion of manufacturing capability for BioE, the vaccine manufacturer in India, enabling BioE to ramp up to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022.
Additionally, the United States is deploying an expert team of public health advisors from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and USAID to work in close collaboration with the US Embassy, India’s health ministries, and India’s Epidemic Intelligence Service staff.
“USAID will also quickly work with CDC to support and fast-track the mobilization of emergency resources available to India through the Global Fund,” he said in a statement.
Further, the two National Security Advisors agreed that the US and India would stay in close touch in coming days.
–PRT
