The prime minister says India is moving forward with the third phase trial ahead of mass production as the country’s cases, deaths, rise
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised the United Nations that his country’s vaccine production capacity will be available globally to combat the coronavirus crisis.
“As the largest vaccine producing country in the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today,” Modi said in a prerecorded speech to the UN General Assembly.
“India’s vaccine production and distribution capacity will be used to help all of humanity fight this crisis.”
Modi made the promise even as India is struggling to contain the spread of the virus, which has already infected 5.9 million Indians and left more than 93,000 dead nationwide, the third-highest death toll in the world.
Modi said India was moving forward with phase three clinical trials, the large-scale trials considered the gold standard for determining safety and efficacy, and would help all countries improve their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of vaccines.
Modi said in August that India was ready to mass-produce COVID-19 vaccines when scientists gave the go-ahead.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been pushing for a “popular vaccine” that is available and affordable everywhere and expressed concern on Tuesday that some countries “were allegedly making side deals exclusively for their own populations.” .
“Such ‘vaccinationism’ is not only unfair, it is counterproductive. None of us are safe until we are all safe. Everybody knows it, ”Guterres told the General Assembly.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the General Assembly on Friday: “Whoever finds the vaccine must share it.”
“Some may see a short-term advantage, or even a profit,” Morrison said. “But I assure anyone who thinks along those lines, humanity will have a very long memory and will be a very, very severe judge.
“Australia’s promise is clear: if we find the vaccine, we will share it. That is the promise we all must make, ”Morrison said.
Pope Francis told the UN on Friday that the poorest and weakest members of society should receive preferential treatment when the coronavirus vaccine is ready.
