UN chief calls India's vaccine production capacity 'best asset' world has today

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday deminated  vaccine production capacity of India as "best asset" that world has today while calling for India to play a major role in global vaccination campaign. His statement comes after India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to neighboring countries.

"I kw that in India re is a very high level of production of Indian developed vaccines. We are in contact with Indian institutions for that. We strongly hope that India will have all instruments that are necessary to play a major role in making sure that a global vaccination is campaign is me possible," said UN chief while dressing media.

He ded, "I think that production capacity of India is best asset that world has today. I hope world understands that it must be fully used."

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External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in a press meet on Thursday anunced that India plans to gift COVID vaccine doses to Oman, CARICOM countries, Nicaragua, Pacific Island states.

EAM spokesperson also promulgated that New Delhi plans to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI's (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) COVAX facility and commercially export coronavirus vaccine to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Cana, Mongolia, and or countries.

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"From 20th January 2021 onward, we have gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines to our neighboring countries and in extended neighborhood--1.5 lakh to Bhutan, 1 lakh to Maldives, Mauritius, and Bahrain, 10 lakhs to Nepal, 20 lakhs to Banglesh, 15 lakhs to Myanmar, 50,000 to Seychelles, 5 lakh to Sri Lanka. In coming days, We plan to gift furr quantity to Oman that is of 1 lakh doses, 5 lakh doses to CARICOM countries. 2 lakh to Nicaragua, 2 lakh doses to Pacific island state," said Srivastava. 

He ded, "On a commercial level, export has taken place for Brazil Morocco, and Banglesh. Furr supplies to countries on commercial bases are likely to take place in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Cana Mongolia, and or countries. We plan to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI."

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Sri Lanka gets 5 lakh COVID vaccine doses from India

On Thursday, Sri Lanka welcomed first 500,000 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine from India, which has donated shots to eight countries in region. Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar anunced on Twitter about Coronavirus vaccine doses that reached Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took to Twitter and confirmed that his country has received 500,000 vaccine doses and also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and every Indian. A total of 250,000 people, mostly health frontline workers, members of security forces and police, and vulnerable d will get vaccine on a priority basis.

(With inputs from ANI)

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