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The event is likely to come out with something about vaccines, the US diplomat said. (Representative image)
The first Quad summit between the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States on Friday is likely to come out with something on the coronavirus vaccine, a senior US diplomat said on Wednesday.
“We have a Quad summit meeting on Friday with President (Joe) Biden, and I hope that we will see something about vaccines at that summit. There are other things that we are looking at that we are working on over the days, weeks and months to make sure we that we are a leading international player in creating greater access to vaccines, “Secretary of State Tony Blinken told lawmakers during a congressional hearing.
Blinken was responding to a question from American Indian Congressman Dr. Ami Bera during a Congressional hearing called by the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“I want to acknowledge the importance of the Quad and the importance that the administration has played in our Quad relationship in the region with Japan, Australia and India. But first I am a doctor and, you know, my interests have always been” I have been a doctor in preparation for a global health pandemic, “said the American Indian legislator.
“First, we have to stop COVID-19 and restore and strengthen our global health security. And as such, I will really appreciate the first aggressive actions of the president and the administration to increase vaccine production here, to increase distribution with it. bill that we approved today, the American Rescue Plan, ”he said.
Bera said she knew in her dialogue with others around the world, they understand that American companies are transparently producing some of the best and most effective vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and potentially Novavax and others. Coming soon.
“It would be funny as we start to think about once we stop COVID here at the national level or at least get vaccinated for the American population, how are we going to get directly involved and counter some of what China is doing, coercively. Frankly. , with what I think is a worse vaccine, “Bera said.
Blinken said the United States has joined COVAX. “We are contributing significant resources, in the billions of dollars, initially with additional resources to come,” he said.
“We have to make sure all Americans are vaccinated. And that’s our number one priority. That’s job one. As we do that, we look for ways to accelerate access to vaccines around the world. Discussed a bit earlier, is It’s in our national security interest to do it because as long as the virus is replicating, it’s mutating. As long as it’s mutating, it could bite us again. So we have a great interest in doing that, “Blinken said.
“And of course, if a large part of the rest of the world is not vaccinated and their economies continue to suffer, there is accompanying human suffering, but there is also an economic deficit for us because we lose partners. So we have a real interest in doing that, “Blinken said.
He said the Biden administration held the first ministerial meeting of the quadrilateral security dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India. “And we will hold a leadership-level summit this week on Friday,” he said.
Congressman Brad Sherman, co-chair of the Indian House Caucus, said he is pleased that President Biden is participating in the quadruple summit on Friday with the heads of state of India, Australia and Japan.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
