PM Modi, Kamala Harris speak over the phone before US sends vaccines for India
The two leaders discussed the ongoing efforts to strengthen the health supply chain between the two countries, including in the area of vaccine manufacturing.
FollowPrime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President Kamala Harris spoke over the phone on Thursday during which the latter informed about her country's plans to make vaccines against Covid-19 available to other countries, including India, under its 'Strategy for Global Vaccine Sharing'.
The United States has announced a global allocation plan of the first 25 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
"PM Modi expressed his appreciation to Vice President Harris for the decision, as well as for all other forms of support and solidarity that India has received in recent days from the US government, businesses and the Indian expatriate community in the US," the PMO said.
The two leaders also discussed the ongoing efforts to strengthen the health supply chain between the two countries, including in the area of vaccine manufacturing.
"They highlighted the potential of the India-US partnership as well as the Quad vaccine initiative in addressing the long-term health impact of the pandemic," it said.
The prime minister expressed hope to welcome her in India soon after the normalisation of the global health situation.
Besides PM Modi, Harris spoke to Mexico President Andres Manuel López Obrador, Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley.
"In four separate calls, the Vice President notified each of the leaders that the Biden-Harris administration will begin sharing the first 25 million doses of Covid vaccines to their respective countries and others, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's framework for sharing at least 80 million vaccines globally by the end of June," Senior advisor and chief spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on Harris's calls with foreign leaders.
Out of these 25 million, 19 million doses will be shared through Covax, the vaccine coalition of the World Health Organization.
The remaining doses, just over 6 million, will be shared directly with countries experiencing surges, those in crisis, and other partners and neighbours, including Canada, Mexico, India, and the Republic of Korea.
