Fauci: US actively looking to send 'immediate medical aid' to India

The Biden administration's top medical adviser on the pandemic said Sunday the U.S. is actively looking at ways to boost aid to India as it grapples with surging coronavirus cases. Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC's "This Week" that several measures are being considered, including sending over oxygen supplies, COVID-19 tests, drug treatments and personal protective equipment.

The outbreak in India adds to the pressure on President Joe Biden to provide vaccines to other countries. Biden has said the U.S. won't begin doing so until it has enough supplies at home. Fauci said the U.S. would review how to help increase India's vaccine supply, such as by sending them doses or helping them "to essentially make vaccines themselves."

And following his interview on the Sunday morning show, the U.S. went ahead and pledged immediate medical aid to the country as it works to combat a surge in coronavirus cases. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke by phone Sunday with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, and expressed sympathy and support.

According to the White House statement, the U.S. is "working around the clock" to immediately deploy to India drug treatments, rapid diagnostic COVID-19 testing kits, ventilators and personal protective equipment and will seek to provide oxygen supplies, as well. The White House says it had identified sources of raw material urgently needed for India's manufacturing of the Covishield vaccine and will make that available.