Modi-Biden telephonic conversation take place after US decides to help India by sending raw materials for Covishield

Modi Ji and Joe Biden converse over phone…Get the details…

Wednesday, 28th April 2021

On this Monday Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Ji and the US president Joe Biden had an over-phone talk. This happened just a day after the United States of America committed to send to India some amount of raw material that would be required to manufacture Covishield Vaccine’s extra stocks. The US like other nations of the world such as France, Germany, the European Union and multiple other nations had come forward to help India in its battle against the deadly virus’s second wave that has affecting over 3 lakhs of people in the country within a span of just four days.

PM Narendra Modi ji later informed through a tweet that he and President Biden had talked about the status of covid in the two nations and he has also thanked Biden for the helping hand the President has promised for India.

"Had a fruitful conversation with @POTUS @JoeBiden  today. We discussed the evolving COVID situation in both countries in detail. I thanked President Biden for the support being provided by the United States to India," said PM Modi in his tweet.

It was informed from the office of the Prime Minister that US  has promised to help with regard to ventilators, therapeutics and with identifying the sources of raw materials for the manufacturing of the Covishield vaccine.

Also through another statement, the Prime Minister's office stated that the two prominent leaders of the two nations further discussed "India's ongoing efforts to contain the second wave of COVID-19 through expedited vaccination efforts, and ensuring supply of critical medicines, therapeutics and healthcare equipment".  

A statement from the White House read: "The President pledged America's steadfast support for the people of India who have been impacted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases... the United States is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics".

However, in its statement the White House did not talk about the 30 million surplus doses of the Oxford-made AstraZeneca vaccine which is being made available as Covishield in India. The President Biden ruled administration was under pressure regarding the vaccine stockpile’s fate, with several people demanding that the excess stocks must be shipped to the places where they are needed most.

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On this Sunday, Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser confirmed after discussing with Ajit Doval, his counterpart in India that the US is preparing to make the Covishield vaccine raw materials available to India "immediately".

Towards the beginning of this month, Adar Poonawalla, the chief of the Serum Institute had requested the US President through a tweet.

"Respected @POTUS, if we are to truly unite in beating this virus, on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the U.S., I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the U.S. so that vaccine production can ramp up. Your administration has the details," read his tweet.

With the vaccination being initiated for the age groups between 18 years and 45 years from the 1st of May in the midst of the Covid spike, India is quite likely to be in need of huge vaccine stocks.

On this Sunday, President Joe Biden stated that his country is "determined" to assist India in this "time of need".

"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," tweeted President Biden.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source:

NDTV