New Delhi: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on phone today with Her Excellency Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America.

Vice President Harris informed Prime Minister about US plans to make vaccines against COVID-19 available to other countries, including India, under its “Strategy for Global Vaccine Sharing”.

Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to Vice President Harris for the US decision, as well as for all other forms of support and solidarity that India has received in recent days from the US Government, businesses and the Indian expatriate community in the US.

The leaders discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen the health supply chain between the US and India, including in the area of vaccine manufacturing. They highlighted the potential of the India-US partnership as well as the Quad vaccine initiative in addressing the long-term health impact of the pandemic.

Prime Minister expressed the hope to welcome Vice President Harris in India soon after the normalisation of the global health situation.

U.S. Readout

“Vice President notified the Biden-Harris administration will begin sharing the first 25 million doses of COVID vaccines,” the US statement said. Washington will be giving out 80 million vaccines globally by the end of June.

The US will be giving 75 per cent of the 25 million vaccines and 19 million via the COVAX facility with six million doses for South and Central America, seven million for Asia and five million for African countries that will be selected in coordination with the African Union.

US President Biden in a statement said, “over 6 million will be shared directly with countries experiencing surges, those in crisis, and other partners and neighbours, including Canada, Mexico, India, and the Republic of Korea.”

Over thirty countries will be getting vaccines in the first tranche. The vaccines will also be given to United Nations frontline workers, which will be shared directly.