India is facing a huge number of cases due to COVID-19, and the situation is getting worse. For this, the Biden administration is under massive pressure from the US Chamber of Commerce and the Indian-Americans lawmakers to supply AstraZeneca and other crucial medical supplies to India as soon as possible.
Myron Brilliant, executive vice-president and head of the International affairs at the US Chambers of Commerce said,” As the Covid pandemic inflicts a heavy toll on countries around the globe, the US Chamber strongly encourages the administration to release the millions of AstraZeneca vaccine doses in storage – as well as other life-saving support – for shipment to India, Brazil, and other nations hard-hit by the pandemic.”
Adding to his statement he also said that it is okay if they supply these vaccines to India, because they will not be needed by the United States. And according to the US vaccine manufacturers, they will be able to produce enough doses by early June to vaccinate every American.
The Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who took twitter to ask for a global help. He stated in his tweet that, “Will strive to ensure that our supply chains are as smooth as possible in a difficult global situation. The world must support India, as India helps the world.” The US issued a statement for help after the tweet.
Our Ambassadors in the US, Germany and EU were also on the call.
We have been working over the last few weeks to address supply chain issues faced by our pharma industry. Appreciated the updates and insights provided today.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 23, 2021
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Shekar Narasimhan who is the major domestic fundraiser for the Biden’s presidential awareness campaign had suggested the US president to talk to PM Narendra Modi. He said “We have to do something in the face of a humanitarian disaster. Every friend I know in the US with family in India reports that relatives have died or been affected”.
Congresswoman Rashida Talib tweeted that the COVID-19 crisis in India is a harsh reminder that the pandemic is not over until the whole world is safe. She also said that “must support a patent waiver to ramp up global production now”.
The Washington Post in a famous editorial hoped that all of India can seize the moment and begin to reverse the course of this disaster. It also made a statement that, “India is not a faraway problem. In pandemic time and distance, every place is nearby.”
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said that, “The COVID-19 situation in India is a global concern, we also continue to collaborate with our partners in India to battle this at the highest level. We know Secretary (of State, Tony) Blinken spoke to his counterpart on Tuesday and we remain deeply engaged with India at all levels as we work to combat this crisis of the pandemic together.”
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Current Update
The statement came that the US denied India’s request on lifting the ban on the export of raw materials for manufacturing the vaccine. The ban can lead to slow India’s vaccination drive.
When asked when US Government will decide on India’s request to lift the ban, the Spokesperson of the State Department stated that the US is first focused on an ambitious and effective and so far, a successful effort to vaccinate the American people first.
The State department Spokesperson Mr. Price said while defending its decision of not lifting the ban on the export of raw materials highlighted that the US has played a leadership role in containing the virus beyond borders.
