New Delhi: United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India, Indian National Media reported. The reports said that the confirmation to this effect was shared by the US NSA, Jake Sullivan, to NSA Ajit Doval.
A White House spokeswoman, on Sunday, said that United States will immediately provide raw materials for Covid-19 vaccines, medical equipment and protective gear to help India respond to a massive surge in Covid-19 infections.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, too, pledged support. “Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific Covid-19 outbreak. We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government, and we will rapidly deploy additional support to the people of India and India’s health care heroes,” he wrote on the micro-blogging site.
Meanwhile United Kingdom, on Sunday, also announced sending life-saving medical equipment including ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices to India as the country battles a severe second wave of coronavirus pandemic. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent “tragic loss” of life from the “terrible virus”.
The UK high commission here said the support follows a request from India and Prime Minister Johnson’s pledge for the UK to do all it can to help the country.
The high commission said more than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment are being sent to India to support the country in its fight against COVID-19. It said the ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices are due to leave the UK on Sunday and the first shipment is expected to arrive in Delhi early on Tuesday with further consignments reaching later this week.
“In total, nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, will be sent to the country this week,” it said. (PTI)
Similar messages of solidarity as well as support were extended by the Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel, Australian foreign minister Marise Payne and other world leaders.
Saudi Arabia is also shipping 80 MTs of liquid oxygen to India, reported PTI.
