India, US in constant talks over delivery of COVID-19 vaccines: Report
The worldwide epidemic will be a major issue on September 24, when US President Joe Biden hosts the first in-person meeting of leaders from the "QUAD" countries - Australia, India, Japan, and the US.
FollowAccording to a senior Biden administration official, the United States is contacting India regularly through bilateral and multilateral channels to discuss the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and to inquire about the timeframe for beginning vaccine exports. The worldwide epidemic will be a major issue on September 24, when US President Joe Biden hosts the first in-person meeting of leaders from the "Quad" countries - Australia, India, Japan, and the US. Prime Ministers Scott Morrison, Narendra Modi, and Yoshihide Suga will visit the United States in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which Biden will address on September 21.
The QUAD leaders virtually met in March and promised to collaborate closely on COVID-19 vaccinations. Still, the project faltered after India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, was hit by a disastrous wave of illnesses, which forced the country to cease vaccine shipments.
Also Read | First-ever QUAD Leaders’ Summit to be held in US on September 24; PM Modi to attend
The administration official stated that Washington was in constant contact with India and other QUAD partners regarding the vaccine collaboration, as well as "any variables that may influence this initiative or global vaccine supply," but that such talks were unrelated to any specific conference or engagement.
Due to the pandemic's urgency, the official added that Washington shifted its supply of raw materials for vaccine manufacture to India in April. That worldwide vaccine availability remained a significant barrier to ending the pandemic.
"We applaud India for being one of the world's major makers of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, and we recognise that COVAX and the rest of the world rely significantly on India's contributions," the official added. Further adding, the official stated, "It is critical for the United States to engage all of our friends and partners on these issues so that we can all work together to end this pandemic."
