U.S. Is Under Pressure to Export More Vaccine Supplies Amid India’s Deadly Surge
In response to India's recent dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases, the US has come under increasing pressure to export more vaccines to the rest of the world. Come read our blog to learn more.
The last couple of months have been extremely difficult for India, as the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major damage to its people. The country has also suffered in economic terms as a result of new lockdowns being imposed in several states. Although India started its vaccination program months ago, the progress has been steady rather than spectacular. This is despite the fact that the country is the largest producer of vaccines in the world. Its massive population has proven to be a significant impediment to its vaccination campaign.
The shortage of vaccines has also proved to be a great challenge for the country. In such a scenario, many are expecting the South Asian nation’s economic partners to step up and help out. One such partner is the US, which has been under immense pressure to export more vaccines to India.
The US Agrees to Export Vaccines
In recent months, the Biden administration has come under increasing pressure to lift restrictions on the export of supplies that Indian vaccine makers say they need to boost production amid a dramatic surge in COVID-19 deaths in the country and falling demand in the US. It has been chastised both at home and abroad for implementing policies that placed the vaccination of Americans first through contracts that required vaccine manufacturers to deliver the majority of initial production to the US.
According to Mumbai-based politician Milind Deora, “by stockpiling vaccines & blocking the export of crucial raw materials needed for vaccine production, the United States is undermining the strategic Indo-US partnership.”
Thus, following global calls for the country to step up efforts to combat the virus as it rages unchecked in developing nations, the Biden administration has moved to dramatically increase its vaccine shipments to other countries. It will now share with the rest of the world 20 million doses of vaccines produced by Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc., and Johnson & Johnson, with 80 million vaccine doses donated by the end of June.
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